The role of nutrition therapy and dietitians in the management of the metabolic syndrome.

Nutrition therapy interventions for the metabolic syndrome include weight reduction or maintenance, physical activity, whole grains and fiber, and type and amount of food fats. Interventions related to carbohydrate--amount and type--and alcohol are controversial. The role of the dietitian is to assist persons with the metabolic syndrome to make lifestyle changes that modify the factors that increase risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.