Metabolic syndrome or syndrome X, is a disorder characterised by insulin resistance and weight gain. Developing metabolic syndrome increases the likelihood of being diagnosed with cardiovascular disease and type II diabetes. The cause of metabolic syndrome is not known, but research has demonstrated that dietary factors such as mineral deficiencies (here) or sugar consumption (here) are involved, at least in part. Some diets have been shown to be protective of developing metabolic syndrome. For example the Mediterranean diet has shown inverse association with metabolic syndrome in some studies. Just why this type of diet might be protective of developing insulin resistance is not known. However, Mediterranean type diets are generally high in essential nutrients and low in sugar. Some researchers have speculated that such diets are protective because they contain high amounts of antioxidants.
Research published in the Journal of Nutrition in 20091 suggests that dietary carotenoids are protective against the development of metabolic syndrome. The researchers conducted a population-based cross-sectional study involving 374 men aged between 40 and 80 years. The researchers estimated the carotenoid intakes of the men based on diet questionnaires, and then determined the presence of metabolic syndrome using a fasting blood glucose test, waist circumference, blood pressure, as well as measuring levels of triglycerides and HDL-cholesterol. The results demonstrated that high intakes of total carotenoids and lycopene were inversely associated with metabolic syndrome. For β‑carotene, the higher the intake the lower the prevalence of metabolic syndrome. Higher intakes of total carotenoids, β-carotene, α-carotene and lycopene were associated with lower waist circumference and visceral and subcutaneous fat mass. High intakes of lycopene were associate with lower tryglycerides.
Dietary carotenoids are thought to be protective of a number of diseases including cardiovascular disease and some forms of cancer. Just why they are protective is not known, but it is possible that they reduce the incidence of certain diseases because they are good reducing agents and act as antioxidants in humans. Increasing your intake of these important plant compounds therefore would likely confer a health benefit and should be recommended. Although carotenoids are available in supplements, they are present in a wide range of vegetables and fruits with red, orange and yellow colours; as well as green leafy vegetables. Tomatoes are a rich source of the carotenoid lycopene, and spinach contains lutein and β-carotene. Incorporating a wide variety of vegetables will increase plasma levels of a mixture of carotenoids and will also provide flavonoids and other essential nutrients.
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