Identifying dietary patterns related to metabolic syndrome using the 7th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with an increased risk of CVD, type 2 diabetes and death from all causes. Dietary factors correlate with MetS, making diet a potential target for intervention. We used data from the 2012–2016 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES, <i>n</i> 12 122) to identify a dietary pattern (DP) using thirty-nine predefined food groups as predictors. MetS components were used as the response variable with the food groups in reduced rank regression followed by stepwise linear regression analyses. We then verified the Korean status of the DP externally in the Cardiovascular Disease Association Study (CAVAS) (<i>n</i> 8277) and the Health EXAminees (HEXA) study (<i>n</i> 48 610). The DP score, which included twenty food groups, showed significant positive associations with all MetS components and a higher prevalence ratio in KNHANES participants (<i>P</i> < 0·0001). Although the score was NS in CAVAS (<i>P</i> = 0·0913), it showed a strong positive association with MetS prevalence in HEXA (<i>P</i> < 0·0001). We identified and tested a DP associated with MetS in Korean populations. This DP may be a useful tool for assessing MetS risk. Although the score was linked to higher MetS risk, particularly in the predominantly urban population of the HEXA study, further validation in more diverse populations is needed.