@article{Koeder2021, author = {Koeder, Christian}, title = {Understanding the situation of vegans}, series = {Eating and Weight Disorders}, journal = {Eating and Weight Disorders}, doi = {10.1007/s40519-021-01127-2}, year = {2021}, language = {en} } @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} } @article{KoederHahnEnglert2021, author = {Koeder, Christian and Hahn, Andreas and Englert, Heike}, title = {Effect of a 6-Month Controlled Lifestyle Intervention on Common Carotid Intima-Media Thickness}, series = {The journal of nutrition, health \& aging}, journal = {The journal of nutrition, health \& aging}, doi = {10.1007/s12603-021-1628-0}, year = {2021}, 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{KranzEnglert2021, author = {Kranz, Ragna-Marie and Englert, Heike}, title = {Effect of a community-based lifestyle intervention programme on quality of life among German women}, series = {European Journal of Public Health}, volume = {Volume 31}, journal = {European Journal of Public Health}, doi = {10.1093/eurpub/ckab165.389}, year = {2021}, abstract = {Background Quality of life is an important concept in the field of health, which can be influenced by various lifestyle factors. The objective was to test if a community-based lifestyle programme would beneficially affect the health-related quality of life of German women. Methods The controlled intervention study had a total duration of 24 months. Quality of life (EQ-5D-3L), anthropometrics, vital and blood parameters as well as diagnosed diseases and health economic parameters were collected at baseline (t0), after 10 weeks (t1) and after 6 months (t2). For the intervention group (n = 65) a 10-week intensive lifestyle programme followed by monthly alumni meetings were conducted. The intensive phase consisted of 14 consecutive seminars about a healthy lifestyle, which focused on a plant-based diet, physical activity, stress management and community support. The control group (n = 35) received no intervention. Results The first descriptive health profile results of the subgroup analysis showed that 59\% women of the intervention group at t0 (t1: 37\%; t2: 48\%) and 60\% of the control group at t0 (t1: 54\%; t2: 49\%) reported problems in at least one of the EQ-5D dimensions (mobility, selfcare, activities, pain, and anxiety). A significant difference in EQ VAS change between women in intervention (7,15 [95\% CI 4,32; 9,98]; EQ VAS t0: 75,35 [SD 13,71]) and control group (-2,63 [95\% CI -5,40; 0,15]; EQ VAS t0: 78,80 [SD 18,51]) from t0 to t1 was observed (p < 001; adjusted for baseline). No significant differences in mean EQ VAS change from t0 to t2 and in mean EQ-5D index change from t0 to t1 and t0 to t2 between the groups were observed (p > 0,05; adjusted for baseline). Conclusions The preliminary results suggest that the lifestyle intervention programme can have a positive short-time effect on some aspects of quality of life, such as the health profile and EQ VAS. However, the long-term results will be shown in the future. Key messages - A healthy lifestyle can affect the quality of life in a positive way. - The community-based lifestyle programme had a short-time influence on the descriptive health profile and EQ VAS of German women, whereby the EQ index didńt change significantly between the groups.}, language = {en} } @article{KoederHahnEnglert2021, author = {Koeder, Christian and Hahn, Andreas and Englert, Heike}, title = {Is fruit intake associated with common carotid intima-media thickness?}, series = {European Journal of Public Health}, journal = {European Journal of Public Health}, doi = {10.1093/eurpub/ckab165.391}, year = {2021}, abstract = {Background Common carotid intima-media thickness (ccIMT) is an established risk marker for cardiovascular events, including myocardial infarction and stroke, which are of high public health relevance. While a higher fruit intake is generally considered beneficial for cardiovascular health, recent studies have shown that a fruit intake of > 2 portions per day may be harmful. Therefore, we tested if there is an association between categories of fruit intake and mean ccIMT. Methods We conducted an exploratory, non-prespecified, cross-sectional analysis of baseline values of 167 mostly middle-aged participants of a controlled lifestyle intervention, recruited from the general population in rural northwest Germany (male: n = 58; female: n = 109). Fruit intake was classified into low (<1 portion of fruit/day), intermediate (1-2 portions of fruit/day), and high (>2 portions of fruit/day). Mean ccIMT was measured in accordance with the Mannheim consensus. Between-group differences in mean ccIMT were assessed with analysis of covariance. Results Mean age was 57.3 ± 0.7 years (mean ± SEM). Mean fruit intake was 1.6 ± 0.1 portions/day. Average mean ccIMT was 0.679 ± 0.010 mm. There was a significant difference in mean ccIMT between subjects with low (0.676 ± 0.020 mm; n = 50), intermediate (0.653 ± 0.014 mm; n = 72), and high fruit intake (0.724 ± 0.019 mm; n = 45; p = 0.016). But this difference was attenuated when adjusting for age, sex, and homocysteine (p = 0.418). Conclusions We found only a non-significant association between consuming >2 portions of fruit per day and ccIMT. Thus, our study could not confirm a negative effect of fruit intake on ccIMT. Age, sex, and homocysteine may confound this association. Key messages Current recommendations of 2 portions of fruit per day seem adequate and do not negatively influence carotid intima-media thickness. Future studies should address confounding of the association between fruit intake and cardiovascular risk markers.}, language = {en} } @article{KoederHusainKranzetal.2022, author = {Koeder, Christian and Husain, Sarah and Kranz, Ragna-Marie and Anand, Corinna and Alzughayyar, Dima and Schoch, Nora and Hahn, Andrea and Englert, Heike}, title = {Healthy lifestyle changes favourably affect common carotid intima-media thickness: the Healthy Lifestyle Community Programme (cohort 2)}, series = {Journal of Nutritional Science}, volume = {11}, journal = {Journal of Nutritional Science}, doi = {10.1017/jns.2022.46}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Common carotid intima-media thickness (ccIMT) progression is a risk marker for cardiovascular disease (CVD), whereas healthy lifestyle habits are associated with lower ccIMT. The objective of the present study was to test whether a healthy lifestyle intervention can beneficially affect ccIMT progression. A community-based non-randomised, controlled lifestyle intervention was conducted, focusing on a predominantly plant-based diet (strongest emphasis), physical activity, stress management and social health. Assessments of ccIMT were made at baseline, 6 months and 1 year. Participants had an average age of 57 years and were recruited from the general population in rural northwest Germany (intervention: n 114; control: n 87). From baseline to 1 year, mean ccIMT significantly increased in both the intervention (0⋅026 [95 \% CI 0⋅012, 0⋅039] mm) and control group (0⋅045 [95 \% CI 0⋅033, 0⋅056] mm). The 1-year trajectory of mean ccIMT was lower in the intervention group (P = 0⋅022; adjusted for baseline). In a subgroup analysis with participants with high baseline mean ccIMT (≥0⋅800 mm), mean ccIMT non-significantly decreased in the intervention group (-0⋅016 [95 \% CI -0⋅050, 0⋅017] mm; n 18) and significantly increased in the control group (0⋅065 [95 \% CI 0⋅033, 0⋅096] mm; n 12). In the subgroup, the 1-year trajectory of mean ccIMT was significantly lower in the intervention group (between-group difference: -0⋅051 [95 \% CI -0⋅075, -0⋅027] mm; P < 0⋅001; adjusted for baseline). The results indicate that healthy lifestyle changes may beneficially affect ccIMT within 1 year, particularly if baseline ccIMT is high.}, language = {en} }