@inproceedings{KoederHahnEnglert2021, author = {Koeder, Christian and Hahn, Andreas and Englert, Heike}, title = {A plant-based diet and healthy lifestyle lower C-reactive protein levels}, series = {Complement Med Res}, booktitle = {Complement Med Res}, doi = {10.1159/000514476}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:hbz:836-opus-131847}, pages = {6 -- 7}, year = {2021}, abstract = {Introduction: Many disease processes are accompanied and promoted by increased inflammation in the body. Increased concentrations of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in the blood are an indicator of subclinical inflammation, increased disease risk, and an increased risk of early death. A healthy plant-based diet and increased physical activity have been shown to reduce hs-CRP concentrations. Objectives: Our objective was to test if a healthy lifestyle intervention program can improve hs-CRP levels and other risk factors. Methodology: We are conducting a non-randomized, controlled intervention study with 6 times of measurement (baseline, after 2.5, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months). Participants in the intervention group (n = 104) took part in a 2.5-month intensive lifestyle program focusing on a plant-based diet (PBD), physical activity, stress management and group support. Currently they are in the less intensive phase (monthly seminars) which will be completed after 24 months. The control group (n = 62) did not take part in any program. In both groups hs-CRP was assessed, and participants with an infection/common cold at any of the times of measurement were excluded from the analyses. Results: In the intervention group (n = 97) we observed a reduction in hsCRP from baseline to 2.5 months (p < 0.001). In the control group (n = 46) hs-CRP levels increased non-significantly. The changes from baseline to 2.5 months were significantly different between intervention and control (p < 0.01). Conclusion: Our program led to a clinically relevant reduction in hs-CRP. Continued follow-up will show if this improvement can be maintained in the intervention group. Our study confirms that a PBD and healthier lifestyle choices can lower hs-CRP.}, language = {en} } @inproceedings{KoederHusainKranzetal.2021, author = {Koeder, Christian and Husain, Sarah and Kranz, Ragna-Marie and Hahn, Andreas and Englert, Heike}, title = {How to achieve sustainable eating in the general population?}, series = {The 9th World Sustainability Forum Program and Abstract Book}, booktitle = {The 9th World Sustainability Forum Program and Abstract Book}, publisher = {MDPI}, doi = {10.25974/fhms-14045}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:hbz:836-opus-140455}, pages = {57 -- 57}, year = {2021}, abstract = {Introduction: Moving towards a more plant-based dietary pattern would likely be beneficial in terms of a variety of sustainability dimensions. Methodology: We conducted a 2-year intervention study with six measurement time points (baseline, 10 weeks, 6 months, 1 year, 1½ years, 2 years) in rural northwest Germany. The intervention consisted of a lifestyle programme, and dietary recommendations were to move towards a healthy, plant-based diet. The control group received no intervention. Diet quality was assessed with the healthful plant-based diet index (hPDI). Results: In the intervention group (n = 67), the 2-year trajectory of hPDI was significantly higher compared to control (n = 39; p 0.001; between-group difference: 5.7 (95\% CI 4.0, 7.3) food portions/day; adjusted for baseline). The 2-year trajectory of meat intake was significantly lower in the intervention group (n = 79) compared to control (n = 40; p 0.001; between-group difference: -0.7 (95\% CI -0.9, -0.5) portions/day; adjusted for baseline). Conclusion: Our study confirms that plant-based nutrition education in the general population is likely to result in at least modest dietary improvements in terms of general healthfulness and meat reduction.}, language = {en} } @article{KranzKettlerAnandetal.2023, author = {Kranz, Ragna-Marie and Kettler, Carmen and Anand, Corinna and Koeder, Christian and Husain, Sarah and Schoch, Nora and Buyken, Anette and Englert, Heike}, title = {Effect of a controlled lifestyle intervention on medication use and costs: The Healthy Lifestyle Community Program (cohort 2)}, series = {Nutrition and Health}, journal = {Nutrition and Health}, publisher = {Sage Publications}, issn = {2047-945X}, doi = {10.25974/fhms-16217}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:hbz:836-opus-162176}, year = {2023}, abstract = {Background: Establishing a healthy lifestyle has a great potential to reduce the prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and their risk factors. NCDs contribute immensely to the economic costs of the health care system arising from therapy, medication use, and productivity loss. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the Healthy Lifestyle Community Program (cohort 2; HLCP-2) on medication use and consequently on medication costs for selected NCDs (diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia). Methods: Data stem from a 24-month non-randomised, controlled intervention trial aiming to improve risk factors for NCDs. Participants completed questionnaires at six measurement time points assessing medication use, from which costs were calculated. The following medication groups were included in the analysis as NCD medication: glucose-lowering medications (GLM), antihypertensive drugs (AHD) and lipid-lowering drugs (LLD). Statistical tests for inter- and intra-group comparison and multiple regression analysis were performed. Results: In total, 118 participants (intervention group [IG]: n = 79; control group [CG]: n = 39) were considered. Compared to baseline medication use decreased slightly in the IG and increased in the CG. Costs for NCD medication were significantly lower in the IG than in the CG after 6 (p = 0.004), 12 (p = 0.040), 18 (p = 0.003) and 24 months (p = 0.008). After multiple regression analysis and adjusting for confounders, change of costs differed significantly between the groups in all final models. Conclusion: The HLCP-2 was able to moderately prevent an increase of medication use and thus reduce costs for medication to treat NCDs with the greatest impact on AHD.}, language = {de} } @article{KranzKettlerKoederetal.2023, author = {Kranz, Ragna-Marie and Kettler, Carmen and Koeder, Christian and Husain, Sarah and Anand, Corinna and Schoch, Nora and Englert, Heike}, title = {Health Economic Evaluation of a Controlled Lifestyle Intervention: The Healthy Lifestyle Community Program (Cohort 2; HLCP-2)}, series = {Nutrients}, journal = {Nutrients}, doi = {10.25974/fhms-17454}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:hbz:836-opus-174544}, year = {2023}, abstract = {Non-communicable diseases (NCD) are associated with high costs for healthcare systems. We evaluated changes in total costs, comprising direct and indirect costs, due to a 24-month non-randomized, controlled lifestyle intervention trial with six measurement time points aiming to improve the risk profile for NCDs. Overall, 187 individuals from the general population aged ≥18 years were assigned to either the intervention group (IG; n = 112), receiving a 10-week intensive lifestyle intervention focusing on a healthy, plant-based diet; physical activity; stress management; and community support, followed by a 22-month follow-up phase including monthly seminars, or a control group (CG; n = 75) without intervention. The complete data sets of 118 participants (IG: n = 79; CG: n = 39) were analyzed. At baseline, total costs per person amounted to 67.80 ± 69.17 EUR in the IG and 48.73 ± 54.41 EUR in the CG per week. The reduction in total costs was significantly greater in the IG compared to the CG after 10 weeks (p = 0.012) and 6 months (p = 0.004), whereas direct costs differed significantly after 10 weeks (p = 0.017), 6 months (p = 0.041) and 12 months (p = 0.012) between the groups. The HLCP-2 was able to reduce health-related economic costs, primarily due to the reduction in direct costs.}, language = {en} }