A low-glycemic nutritional fitness program to reverse metabolic syndrome in professional firefighters: results of a pilot study.

Background: The risk for cardiovascular events is higher for those with metabolic syndrome (MetS), and it is known that firefighters have a 4-fold risk for cardiovascular events. The purpose of this study was to quantify MetS prevalence and evaluate the effect of a low-glycemic nutritional fitness program on the reduction of MetS risk factors among firefighters.

Methods: Professional firefighters were screened for MetS then enrolled in a low-glycemic nutritional fitness program for a 12-week period.