Dietary factors and metabolic syndrome in workers at the School of Pharmacy and Biochemistry of Chimbote, Peru

Abstract

Introduction: Metabolic syndrome is a complex disease involving abdominal obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemias and hyperglycemia.

Objective: To determine the dietary factors related to metabolic syndrome in the teaching and administrative staff of the School of Pharmacy and Biochemistry of the Catholic University "Los Angeles de Chimbote", Peru.

Methods: The study design was non-experimental, descriptive correlational and cross-sectional. 43 collaborators participated whom answered a questionnaire on eating habits based on the consumption of snacks, industrialized sugary drinks, biscuits, red meat, fish and cereals. The presence of metabolic syndrome was identified through the use of the criteria of the Latin American Diabetes Association. In turn, glucose determinations and lipid profile were determined with the use of Accu Chek Performa Nano glucometer and 3-in-1 Mission Cholesterometer. For statistical analysis, the chi-squared contingency test was used. The study was conducted with staff from the School of Pharmacy and Biochemistry of the Catholic University "Los Angeles de Chimbote", Peru, between the months of September to December 2019.

Results: Inadequate fruit consumption was determined in 83.7 % of the collaborators, cereals in 69.8%, fat-free milk in 55.8%, fish in 46.5%, milk with fat in 37.2%, and sugary drinks in 34.9%. On the other hand, the participants presented the following percentages of suffering different conditions: 44.19 % metabolic syndrome, 72.09 % a high atherogenic index; 65.12 % pre-diabetes, 48.84 % hypertriglyceridemia and 51.16 % abdominal obesity.

Conclusions: The consumption of sugary drinks and low fish consumption were dietary factors that were associated with metabolic syndrome.