Dietary fiber intake and metabolic syndrome risk factors among young South African adults

This study attempts to bridge the research gap regarding the importance of dietary ���ber in reducing metabolic syndrome (MetS) risk factors in young rural South Africans. A total of 627 individuals (309 males and 318 females) aged 18���30 years participated in the study. Dietary intake was measured using a validated 24-h recall method. The consumption of different types of dietary ���ber (total, soluble, and insoluble) was calculated and presented as grams. Anthropometrics, blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, and lipid pro���les were measured according to standard protocols. According to the de���nition of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), the prevalence of MetS was 23.1%. Overall, the total median [interquartile range (IQR)] values for total, insoluble, and soluble ���ber consumed were 4.6 g [0.0���48.9], 0.0 g [0.0���18.0], and 0.0 g [0.0���15.0], respectively. Females had a higher median [IQR] intake of total (5.1 g [0.0���48.9] vs. 4.3 g [0.0���43.9]), insoluble (0.0 g [0.0���18.0] vs. 0.0 g [0.0���12.0]), and soluble ���ber (0.0 g [0.0���14.9] vs. 0.0 g [0.0���7.3]) than males, respectively. The mean values for waist circumference, fasting blood glucose, and total cholesterol were higher in females than males (82.20 cm vs. 75.07 cm; 5.59 mmol/L vs. 5.44 mmol/L; and 4.26 mmol/L vs. 4.03 mmol/L, respectively), with signi���cant differences observed for waist circumference and total cholesterol (p < 0.001 and p = 0.005, respectively). More than 97% of participants had ���ber intakes below the recommended levels. After adjusting for all potential confounders (age, gender, and energy), log total ���ber was inversely associated with fasting blood glucose (�� =���0.019, 95% CI [���0.042 t o0.003],p<0.05),systolic blood pressure(�� =���0.002,95%CI[���0.050 to 0.002],p<0.05)and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (�� =���0.085, 95% CI [���0.173 to 0.002], p = 0.051) This study may be of public health relevance, providing a potential link between less dietary ���ber intake and fasting blood glucose (FBG) and both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Therefore, this observational data encourages public health policy measures to increase the consumption of dietary ���ber in rural communities in order to lower the burden of MetS and its associated risk factors.