Impact of a mediterranean diet on metabolic and inflammatory biomarkers in psychiatric patients with metabolic syndrome

Abstract Psychiatric patients with metabolic syndrome are at increased risk of cardiometabolic complications due to chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and metabolic disturbances. The Mediterranean diet (MD) has demonstrated anti-inflammatory and cardiometabolic benefits, but its effects in this population remain insufficiently explored. To evaluate the effects of the MD on anthropometric measures, lipid profile, inflammatory cytokines, and metabolic biomarkers in psychiatric patients with metabolic syndrome. In this randomized crossover trial, 30 adults (15 males and 15 females) with psychiatric disorders and metabolic syndrome received either a MD or the standard hospital diet (HD) for 8 weeks. Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, fasting blood glucose (FBG), lipid profile, inflammatory cytokines, and metabolic biomarkers were assessed before and after each intervention. Compared with the HD, the MD significantly reduced body weight, percentage body fat (PBF), visceral fat (VF), blood pressure, FBG, and total cholesterol (TC) ( p ≤ 0.05). Pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin-12 (IL-12), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) decreased, while anti-inflammatory cytokines remained within normal ranges following the MD. Most metabolic hormones remained within reference ranges, although triiodothyronine (T3) and melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) were elevated. An 8-week MD intervention improved body composition, metabolic health, and inflammatory status in psychiatric patients with metabolic syndrome. These findings support the MD as a promising nutritional strategy to reduce cardiometabolic risk in this high-risk population.