Lean fish consumption is associated with decreased risk of metabolic syndrome: Results from a large population-based study

Abstract

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of risk factors for cardiovascular disease that include abdominal obesity, dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia and hypertension. Fish consumption may be a useful component when aiming to improve components of MetS. The main aim of this thesis was to identify associations between fish consumption and MetS and its components. Data was collected from the Norwegian Tromsø Study, Tromsø 4 (1994–1995) and Tromsø 6 (2007-2008) through questionnaires, anthropometrical measurements, and blood samples. Current literature was reviewed before possible associations at each time-point and changes during the 13-year period from Tromsø 4 to Tromsø 6 were addressed. Overall, lean fish consumption was associated with decreased risk of MetS, and beneficial changes in several of the MetS components, whereas fatty fish consumption was not associated with such beneficial changes.