Assessing the Effect of an Antioxidant-Rich Diet on Metabolic Syndrome Risk Using the Dietary Antioxidant Index (AD-MetS-DAI)

January 14, 2026 updated by: Qaisar Raza, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore - Pakistan
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of metabolic disorders characterized by elevated levels of blood glucose, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and abdominal obesity. Globally, it is a major public health concern. International studies have linked higher Dietary Antioxidant Index with reduced risk of MetS, as antioxidants play a role in lowering the risk of MetS by reducing oxidative stress, a key contributor to its pathophysiology. Exploring this link in Pakistan can provide valuable insights for dietary strategies to reduce the risk of MetS.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of metabolic disorders characterized by elevated levels of blood glucose, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and abdominal obesity. Globally, it is a major public health concern. International studies have linked higher Dietary Antioxidant Index (DAI) scores with reduced risk of MetS, as antioxidants play a role in lowering the risk of MetS by reducing oxidative stress, a key contributor to its pathophysiology. Exploring this link in Pakistan can provide valuable insights for dietary strategies to reduce the risk of MetS.

Hypothesis: A dietary intervention aimed at improving Dietary Antioxidant Index (DAI) scores beneficially affects Metabolic Syndrome risk factors among urban adults at risk of developing Metabolic Syndrome.

Material and Methods: A single-group pre-post human interventional study will be conducted among at-risk urban adults identified through the NCEP ATP III and WHO criteria. Dietary recalls will be analyzed in NutriSurvey using the Pakistan Food Composition Table, and any missing nutrient values will be supplemented from the Indian Food Composition Table. Nutrient data will be used to calculate the Dietary Antioxidant Index (DAI). Individuals with low DAI will receive dietary intervention.

Statistical Analysis: Pre-post changes in DAI and MetS markers will be assessed using paired t-tests, and Pearson's correlation will determine their associations using SPSS 25.

Expected Outcomes: The intervention is expected to reduce key Metabolic Syndrome risk factors while increasing individuals' awareness and motivation to adopt healthier behaviors.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

55

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • Pakistan
    • Punjab Province
      • Lahore, Punjab Province, Pakistan, 54000
        • Recruiting
        • University of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, Lahore Pakistan
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Adults aged 18-45 years
  • Metabolic syndrome risk (abdominal obesity & elevated BP as per NCEP ATP III criteria).
  • Low fruit & veg intake (<5 serv./day) as per WHO.
  • Willing to follow an intervention
  • Non-pregnant or lactating
  • Not diagnosed with malabsorption syndrome or chronic illness

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Individuals < 18 years or > 45 years
  • Not at risk of metabolic syndrome.
  • Adequate intake of fruits & veg (≥ 5 serv./day) as per WHO
  • Not willing
  • Pregnant or lactating
  • Diagnosed with malabsorption syndrome or chronic illness

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Dietary Antioxidant Index-Based Dietary Intervention Arm
Participants in this arm will receive an antioxidant-rich dietary intervention designed to improve the Dietary Antioxidant Index (DAI). The intervention includes guidance to increase intake of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and antioxidant-rich foods while limiting pro-oxidant and ultra-processed foods. Changes in DAI and metabolic syndrome components will be assessed before and after the intervention.
Other: Antioxidant-Focused Diet Intervention
This intervention specifically targets the Dietary Antioxidant Index (DAI) by increasing consumption of antioxidant-rich foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes, while limiting pro-oxidant and ultra-processed foods. Unlike general healthy diet interventions, this study focuses on quantifiable antioxidant intake and its direct association with metabolic syndrome risk in urban adults.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Dietary Antioxidant Index (DAI)
Time Frame: Baseline and after 12 weeks of intervention
DAI will be calculated from 24-hour dietary recalls to quantify total antioxidant intake. The primary objective is to assess whether the antioxidant-rich diet increases DAI in participants.
Baseline and after 12 weeks of intervention
Change in Metabolic Syndrome Risk Score
Time Frame: Baseline and after 12 weeks of intervention
A composite metabolic syndrome risk score will be calculated by summing standardized z-scores of waist circumference (cm), fasting blood glucose (mg/dL), systolic blood pressure (mmHg), triglycerides (mg/dL), and inversely weighted HDL-cholesterol (mg/dL) to generate a single continuous measure of overall metabolic syndrome risk.
Baseline and after 12 weeks of intervention

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Body Composition
Time Frame: Baseline and after 12 weeks of intervention
Body composition, including body fat percentage and skeletal muscle mass, will be assessed using InBody analyzer to evaluate changes in body composition.
Baseline and after 12 weeks of intervention

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore - Pakistan

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Qaisar Raza, Ph.D, UNIVERSITY OF VETERINARY & ANIMAL SCIENCES, LAHORE PAKISTAN.

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

January 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

April 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

April 15, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

December 17, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 14, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

January 21, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

January 21, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 14, 2026

Last Verified

December 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Other Study ID Numbers

  • UniversityVAS3

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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