Metabolic Syndrome and Diabetes Task Force

Background

Many people with non-insulin dependent or type 2 diabetes are obese and have hypertension and dyslipidemia. The co-occurrence of these disorders is commonly referred to as ´metabolic syndrome´, ´insulin resistance syndrome´ or, formerly, ´syndrome X´. However, it is not yet fully understood if, or how, these disorders are causally linked.

Type 2 diabetes and its preceding conditions of insulin resistance, hyperinsulinaemia and glucose intolerance occur increasingly throughout the world. A variety of risk factors have been identified: physical inactivity, obesity, inappropriate diet, ageing and genetic factors. For management and prevention purposes, it may be more effective to apply an integrated approach rather than to focus on one or a few single factor(s).

Objectives

The objectives of this task force are to:
1. identify risk factors and their relative importance in the development of metabolic syndrome, its components and its preceding conditions;
2. propose dietary and lifestyle strategies for the prevention, management and possibly the reversal of metabolic syndrome and its components;
3. communicate the outcomes to decision-makers of the European Union, the World Health Organization, relevant scientific and patient organisations, and health professionals.

Activity

Dietary Factors and Low Grade Inflammation in Relation to the Metabolic Syndrome

Low grade chronic inflammation (LGCI) has been linked to, amongst other health outcomes, cardiovascular disease. It is one feature of the metabolic syndrome and often seen in the overweight and obese population.

This Expert Group has begun a systematic review on the impact of nutrition on LGCI.
The driving questions for this review are:

•  Is eating a bad diet pre-disposing to inflammation?
• Is it possible to treat people with low grade chronic inflammation via nutritional intervention?
• What are the acute vs. chronic effects to dietary factors?
• What is the role of exercise?
• Which biomarkers can be used to adequately describe the above

To tackle these questions the role of specific food components and dietary patterns are being considered:

• Processing produced compounds: Advanced Glycation Endproducts (AGE’s), Advanced lipoperoxidation end- products (ALE’s)
• Fatty acids/lipaemia
• Carbohydrates/glycaemia/insulin resistance
• Micronutrients
• Phytochemicals
• Proteins, peptides, amino acids
• Fibre/prebiotics
• Probiotics Dietary patterns
• Eating patterns
• Beverages
• Whole foods/formulations
• Hydration
• Genetic control
• Nutrient/gene interactions in relation to inflammation.

Each of the above sections will address the acute versus chronic effects on LGCI, the response in healthy subjects versus those with metabolic syndrome. Included data will include dose response, bioavailability, biomarkers and outcome effects. A summary table of all important studies will be produced to support the review.

The outcome will be a review article published in a peer-reviewed journal. Broad dissemination amongst all key stakeholders is planned including collaborative workshops and an ILSI Europe concise monograph. The results will contribute to a wider understanding of LGCI in the obese, pre- and type 2 diabetic population.

The Year Ahead

The current activity is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2008.  So, during the coming year, the task force will begin discussing the next activity to be taken for 2009.  This is an opportune time to join this Task Force, help steer these activities, and suggest further topics.

Task Force Collaborators

The scientists below participate in the task force:

Experts from supporting member companies

Dr. Fred Brouns, Cerestar (BE)
Dr. Karen Cunningham, Coca-Cola Europe Union Group (UK)
Dr. Gerd Harzer, Kraft Foods (DE)
Dr. Nathan Matusheski, Kraft Foods (UK)
Dr. Hervé Nordmann, Ajinomoto Europe (CH)
Dr. Stephan Theis, Südzucker/BENEO Group (DE)
Dr. Mirian Lansink, Royal Numico (NL)
Dr. Taru Pilvi, Valio (FI)

Experts from public institutes

Prof. Philip Calder, University of Southampton (UK)
Prof. Karine Clement/Dr. Salwa Rizkalla/Dr. Naman Ahluwalia, INSERM (FR)
Dr. Katherine Esposito, University of Naples SUN (IT)
Dr. Stephan Theis, Südzucker/BENEO Group (DE)
Dr. Ascension Marcos/Dr. Julia Wärnberg, Spanish National Research Council (ES)
Prof.Andrew Margioris, University of Crete (GR)
Dr. Giuseppe Pugliese, University of Rome (IT)
Dr. John O’Brien, Food Safety Authority (IE)
Dr. Ulf Risérus, University of Uppsala (SE)
Dr. Casper Schalkwijk, University of Maastricht (NL)
Dr. Jaakko Tuomilehto/Prof. Hubert Kolb, National Public Health Institute (FI)
Dr. Bernhard Watzl, Federal Research Centre for Nutrition and Food (DE)

Publications:

M. Parillo, G. Riccardi. Diet Composition and the Risk of Type-2 Diabetes: Epidemiological and Clinical Evidence. British Journal of Nutrition 2004;90(1):7-19.

For more information contact info@ilsieurope.be.