Adherence to the healthy nordic food index is associated with favorable obesity-related cardiometabolic risk factors among apparently healthy obese individuals

Limited reports have highlighted the protective role of Healthy Nordic Food Index (HNFI) score against several chronic diseases like cancers and cardiovascular disorders. However, its beneficial role in obesity-related cardiometabolic risk factors is not well understood. In the current work, we examined the adherence to Nordic diet by estimating HNFI score and its association with metabolic syndrome and its components among Iranian population. In the current cross-sectional study, 339 individuals with obesity aged 20-50 years were recruited. Dietary intake was assessed by a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Enzymatic methods were used to assess serum lipids and glycemic markers. Blood pressure was measured by sphygmomanometer and body composition with bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). No significant differences were found in age, sex distribution, waist circumference, body mass index categories, socioeconomic status score, fat mass percentage, fat-free mass, basal metabolic rate across quartiles or physical activity of HNFI (all P > 0.05). Also, higher energy, saturated fatty acids, sugar, fiber, β-carotene, yogurt, milk, and potatoes was shown in higher HNFI categories (P < 0.05). Higher adherence to Nordic diet was accompanied with lower systolic blood pressure (SBP, P < 0.001), total cholesterol (P,0.047) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) concentrations (P, 0.034) after adjusting for age, body mass index (BMI), physical activity level). In multinomial logistic regression analysis, HNFI showed no significant association with most obesity-related cardiometabolic risk factors. After adjustment for age and sex, participants in the third HNFI quartile had lower SBP, DBP, TC compared to participants in first HNFI quartile (P < 0.05). No significant associations were observed for FBS, TG, insulin, HOMA-IR, α-MSH, and AgRP (OR > 0.05). According to our results, higher adherence to Nordic diet was associated with favorable cardio-metabolic risk factors among apparently healthy adults with obesity. Further researches are warranted to better clarify these findings.