Association between Macronutrient and Fatty Acid Consumption and Metabolic Syndrome: A South African Taxi Driver Survey

Machoene Derrick Sekgala; Maretha Opperman; Buhle Mpahleni; Zandile June-Rose Mchiza

doi:10.3390/ijerph192315452

Association between Macronutrient and Fatty Acid Consumption and Metabolic Syndrome: A South African Taxi Driver Survey

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Nov 22;19(23):15452. doi: 10.3390/ijerph192315452.

Authors

Machoene Derrick Sekgala^{1

2}, Maretha Opperman³, Buhle Mpahleni³, Zandile June-Rose Mchiza^{1

4}

Affiliations

¹ School of Public Health, University of the Western Cape, Bellville 7535, South Africa.
² Human and Social Capabilities, Human Sciences Research Council, Cape Town 8000, South Africa.
³ Functional Foods Research Unit, Department of Biotechnology and Consumer Science, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town 7535, South Africa.
⁴ Non-Communicable Diseases Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Tygerberg, Cape Town 7505, South Africa.

Abstract

We aimed to examine the association between macronutrient and fatty acid intake and metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components in South African male mini-bus taxi drivers. One hundred and eighty-five (n = 185) male taxi drivers, aged 20 years and older, who operate in the Cape Town metropole, South Africa, were included. The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) algorithm was used to define MetS. The association between macronutrient and fatty acid intake (assessed using 24 h recall) and MetS were analyzed using multivariable nutrient density substitution models. Overall, protein consumption significantly increased the likelihood of high blood pressure (HBP) and significantly lowered the likelihood of having low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). In an isoenergetic state, the intake of protein instead of carbohydrates (CHOs) and total fat, reduced the likelihood of elevated triglycerides by 6.7% and 6.6%, respectively. The intake of CHOs instead of protein and total fat, reduced the likelihood of HBP by 2.2% and 2.8%, respectively. In the same isoenergetic state, the intake of saturated fatty acids (SFAs) instead of mono-unsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) increased the likelihood of HBP by 9.8%, whereas the intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) instead of SFAs decreased the likelihood of HBP by 9.4%. The current study showed that when total food energy intake is kept constant, a diet that is high in protein, CHOs and PUFAs reduces triglycerides and BP, whereas the intake of total fat and SFAs had the opposite effect. It should, however, be noted that these outcomes were produced using mathematical models, as such we recommend further prospective studies in real life that will reveal the actual associations between the consumption of macronutrients and fatty acids and MetS and its components.

Keywords: South African taxi drivers; diet; fatty acid intake; macronutrient intake; metabolic syndrome; substitution mode.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Cardiovascular Diseases*
Dietary Fats
Fatty Acids
Fatty Acids, Unsaturated
Humans
Hypertension*
Male
Metabolic Syndrome* / epidemiology
Prospective Studies
South Africa / epidemiology

Substances

Fatty Acids
Dietary Fats
Fatty Acids, Unsaturated

Grants and funding

The work reported herein was made possible through Cochrane South Africa, the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), under the Collaboration for Evidence-Based Healthcare and Public Health in Africa (CEBHA+) scholarship program. CEBHA+ receives funding from the Federal Ministry for Education and Research (Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung, BMBF), Germany, through the BMBF funding of research networks for health innovation in sub-saharan Africa. The funding number is 81203621. The Non-Communicable Diseases Research Unit (NCD-RU) of the SAMRC and the Human and Social Capabilities (HSC) division of the Human Science Research Council (HSRC).