Effect of Mediterranean Diet in Combination with Isokinetic Exercise Therapy on Body Composition and Cytokine Profile in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a combination of comorbidities that increase pro-inflammatory cytokines (PIC) production, with subsequent body composition (BC) abnormalities and high cardiovascular risk. Treatment with diet and exercise has been suggested as possible non-pharmacological adjuvant treatment. Objective: To determine changes in BC and PIC in patients with MS after a Mediterranean-type diet (MedDiet) and/or isokinetic exercise (IE). Methods: A controlled randomized clinical trial was conducted at a third-level hospital in Mexico City. Intervention groups: G1: MedDiet + IE; G2: IE; G3: MedDiet; G4: control. Anthropometry, BC, and PIC were collected from the baseline and at 12 weeks post-intervention. MedDiet was estimated from a 24-h recall record. IE consisted of a standard high-intensity anaerobic exercise program. Results: Forty-two patients with MS aged 18-65 years old were included. The most frequent comorbidities were obesity, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia. After 6 months of intervention, a significant reduction of resistin was observed within the IE group and MedDiet + IE, whereas the former group also showed an increase in adiponectin. Interventions of MedDiet and MedDiet + IE showed a decrease in IL-10. Regarding BC, all groups increased the resistance values in relation to the baseline but were lower than the control group. Conclusions: The results suggest that MedDiet and IE have a selective impact on pro-inflammatory mediators, while the combination of MedDiet and IE may induce only minor changes in BC.