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46 METABOLIC SYNDROME FROM PAGE 45 with an unknown mix of up to five invisible disorders, it would be easy for a pharmacy assistant to feel overwhelmed, but don’t be, because there’s good news. Despite the vast range of treatment options you may have expected, patients with metabolic syndrome will typically need to focus on nothing more than lifestyle changes, which means exercise ... and diet. “Exercise and diet can play a huge role, particularly when based on the different risk factors the person may have,” Dr Rouf said. “With exercise, I think a lot of people believe they need to go to the gym, do strenuous workouts and be super athletic, but it can be much simpler than that. For example, there’s a lot of good evidence around showing the value of taking 10,000 steps each day.” Depending on the patient’s age, helping them increase the amount of exercise they do might be as simple as referring them to an exercise physiologist. With younger patients, suggesting a local pilates classes, or perhaps recommending them to a fitness coach may be all that’s needed to get them on the right track. With diet, there are endless possibilities, all based on the simple principle of healthy eating, which means maintaining a diet low in kilojoules, salt and fat, and high in fruits, wholegrains and vegetables. Reducing the amount of fats in a diet helps with weight loss and improves cholesterol levels while reducing salt intake, and consistently eating healthily can reduce blood pressure, both of which are exactly what’s needed when seeking to reduce risk of metabolic syndrome. “Talking from experience, a referral to an accredited practising dietitian can be an enormous help to a patient wanting to make the necessary healthy changes to their lifestyle,” Dr Rouf said. “An example would be helping a patient with high blood pressure by lowering the sources of salt in their diet, reducing their sodium. “If it’s a patient with the increased blood sugar at that pre-diabetes stage, it’s important to offer support too, making them aware that prediabetes doesn’t mean it’s going to lead to diabetes. There are steps they can “I think a lot of people believe they need to go to the gym, do strenuous workouts and be super athletic, but it can be much simpler than that.” begin to take immediately, so it doesn’t go to that next stage of diabetes. “Fibre is also important in the sense that it’s going to keep people full. Often, people will continue to eat large amounts of carbohydrates, but this quickly turns to sugar, so they need more to keep full. That just adds to the calories, so they end up eating a lot more carbohydrates and calories than they should, leading to weight gain. “From a dietitian’s perspective, I’d say supplements definitely have a place in a healthy diet and they’re certainly useful for people with a deficiency, including those with metabolic syndrome.” For patients seeking additional support with vitamins, minerals and supplements (VMS), there are usually many options for targeting particular risks. We’ve shared some examples related to metabolic syndrome below. When making recommendation on VMS, always tell patients to consult with their doctor if in any doubt about the products they’re considering. • For blood sugar: chromium supplements, probiotics, vitamin D, magnesium. • For cholesterol: psyllium fibre, niacin or vitamin B3 complex supplements, omega-3 fatty acid supplements. • For triglycerides: fish oil, fenugreek. • For blood pressure: potassium supplements. • For blood pressure and cholesterol: garlic supplements. Keep an eye out for next month’s issue of Retail Pharmacy Assistants where we’ll be deep diving in the VMS aisle to bring a comprehensive round-up of the latest products, trends and initiatives. In the meantime, pay attention to warnings, and walk away from that bright blue slushie. One day, your body will thank you. RETAIL PHARMACY ASSISTANTS • APR 2021