Dietary patterns and their impact on metabolic disorders: A comprehensive review

Metabolic disorders, including obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), are rapidly increasing worldwide. Dietary patterns, rather than isolated nutrients, play a pivotal role in modulating metabolic risk. This review examines major dietary patterns including Western, Mediterranean, DASH, vegetarian/plant-based, ketogenic, and traditional Asian diets and their impact on metabolic outcomes. Mechanisms involving insulin resistance, inflammation, oxidative stress, gut microbiota modulation, and lipid metabolism are discussed. Evidence suggests that plant-forward, fibre-rich, minimally processed dietary patterns significantly reduce metabolic risk, whereas ultra-processed and high-saturated-fat diets exacerbate metabolic dysfunction. The review emphasizes the need for culturally adaptable dietary interventions for prevention and management of metabolic disorders.