Research

Hormonal

Adherence to a high-quality carbohydrate diet (high fiber, low glycemic index, high whole-grain ratio, high solid-to-liquid carbohydrate ratio) is associated with a significantly lower prevalence of metabolic syndrome, primarily driven by reduced hypertriglyceridemia.

To lower your risk of metabolic syndrome, focus on the quality of your carbohydrates rather than just cutting them out. Prioritize foods high in dietary fiber, whole grains, and those with a low glycemic index, while minimizing liquid carbohydrates like sugary drinks and refined grains. This shift specifically helps lower triglyceride levels, a key component of metabolic health.

ModerateSupportsMEDIUM confidence
Among middle-aged men, a higher adherence to a high-quality carbohydrate diet is associated with a lower prevalence of the MetS. Triglyceridemia is the MetS component that contributed the most to this reduced risk.
Ainara Muñoz-Cabrejas et al. · The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism · 2023

Why this rating

Large sample size (n=2,316) and adjusted logistic regression, but the cross-sectional design prevents establishing causality.

Source

Low-Quality Carbohydrate Intake Is Associated With a Higher Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome: The AWHS Study

Ainara Muñoz-Cabrejas et al. · The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism · 2023

DOI 10.1210/clinem/dgad706

cross_sectional · n=2316Cited 4×
Read the paper
DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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