Chun Hyejin, Ha Jung-Heun, Oh Jongchul, Doo Miae
Department of Family Medicine, Ewha Womans University College of Medicine, Seoul 07804, Republic of Korea.
Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Dankook University, Cheonan 31116, Republic of Korea.
Healthcare (Basel). 2025 Mar 24;13(7):709. doi: 10.3390/healthcare13070709.
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a growing global health concern, driven in part by increasing rates of overweight and obesity. In Korea, MetS incidence escalates particularly among middle-aged women, eventually surpassing that of men. While protein-rich diets have been associated with improved metabolic health, the impact of protein intake on body weight fluctuations (BWFs) and MetS risk has received limited attention, especially in Korean populations.
Using data from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES), this study examined whether a higher intake of protein-rich foods is linked to smaller BWF and lower MetS incidence in middle-aged Korean women. Dietary intake was assessed through validated questionnaires, and BWF was calculated based on repeated anthropometric measurements over a long-term follow-up. MetS was defined according to established clinical criteria.
Preliminary findings indicated that participants who consumed higher amounts of protein-rich foods, particularly animal-based proteins (e.g., fish, low-fat dairy), tended to exhibit smaller BWFs. Additionally, lower BWF was associated with a reduced risk of MetS, suggesting that stable weight regulation may play a protective role against metabolic dysfunction. Potential mechanisms include the preservation of lean mass, enhanced energy expenditure, and reduced carbohydrate intake when protein consumption is increased. These findings highlight the importance of dietary strategies that optimize protein intake to help minimize BWF and potentially lower MetS risk in middle-aged Korean women. Future research should investigate the specific sources and quality of protein and their long-term effects on metabolic health outcomes in diverse populations.
背景/目的：代谢综合征（MetS）是一个日益引起全球健康关注的问题，部分原因是超重和肥胖率的上升。在韩国，MetS的发病率在中年女性中尤其升高，最终超过男性。虽然富含蛋白质的饮食与改善代谢健康有关，但蛋白质摄入量对体重波动（BWF）和MetS风险的影响受到的关注有限，尤其是在韩国人群中。
本研究利用韩国基因组与流行病学研究（KoGES）的数据，调查了在中年韩国女性中，摄入较多富含蛋白质的食物是否与较小的BWF和较低的MetS发病率相关。通过经过验证的问卷评估饮食摄入量，并根据长期随访中的重复人体测量数据计算BWF。根据既定的临床标准定义MetS。
初步研究结果表明，摄入较多富含蛋白质食物的参与者，尤其是动物性蛋白质（如鱼类、低脂乳制品），往往表现出较小的BWF。此外，较低的BWF与MetS风险降低相关，这表明稳定的体重调节可能对代谢功能障碍起到保护作用。潜在机制包括保留瘦体重、增加能量消耗以及在蛋白质摄入量增加时减少碳水化合物摄入。这些发现凸显了优化蛋白质摄入量的饮食策略的重要性，以帮助中年韩国女性尽量减少BWF并潜在降低MetS风险。未来的研究应调查蛋白质的具体来源和质量及其对不同人群代谢健康结果的长期影响。
