The percentage of the population suffering from metabolic syndrome, a group of disorders associated with insulin resistance, is increasing. In fact, it already affects 25% of Spaniards, according to the Spanish Association for the Study of the Liver, and reducing its prevalence is one of the great challenges in health.
For this reason, research that focuses on finding a solution to this syndrome proliferates without stopping. The last one, in which the University of Oviedo has participated, concludes that an adequate breakfast can reduce the risk of suffering this type of pathology.
This study published in Nutrients also indicates that those who ingest 15-30% of their daily calories in this meal of the day have less obesity, hypertension and diabetes, all conditions associated with these symptoms.
Diet is one of the factors that most influences this syndrome, but now the authors of this research ensure that how food is distributed throughout the day is also key. The lack of studies that assessed the relationship between the composition of the intake and different pathologies at breakfast pushed researchers "to delve into the effect of this meal on metabolic health," explains Cristina Lasheras Mayo, a professor at the University of Oviedo. , in a statement from the center.
The study participants were a group of volunteers from the EPIC (European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition) study on diet, cancer and health, which is taking place in Asturias, Granada, Murcia, Navarra, Guipúzcoa and Barcelona.
To begin with, they studied the diet of each subject and took a blood sample to obtain the intake of carbohydrates, proteins, fats and total fiber for the day and for each of the meals taken. With these data, they observed that the number of subjects suffering from metabolic syndrome was 38% lower among those who ate 15-30% of the day's calories for breakfast. The pathologies in which the greatest effect was seen were obesity, hypertension and diabetes.
The authors of the study also observed that those who ate five meals a day had less breakfast, something that they associated with a 23% higher chance of suffering metabolic syndrome, "perhaps due to greater snacking between meals," they point out.
The type of study design does not allow us to talk about a cause-effect relationship, but its authors defend that experimental research has shown that consuming the same calories first thing in the morning instead of doing it at the end of the day translates into a better metabolic response and increased calorie expenditure.
"In addition, a good breakfast with foods that provide us with adequate calories increases the feeling of satiety and, therefore, reduces the amount of food eaten for the rest of the day," Lasheras emphasizes.
The researcher recalls that although current schedules make it difficult for us to pay attention to our biology and achieve a good distribution of intake, "this research points to the importance of having a good breakfast as a strategy to reduce metabolic syndrome."
