TY  - JOUR
A1  - Koeder, Christian
A1  - Husain, Sarah
A1  - Kranz, Ragna-Marie
A1  - Anand, Corinna
A1  - Alzughayyar, Dima
A1  - Schoch, Nora
A1  - Hahn, Andrea
A1  - Englert, Heike
T1  - Healthy lifestyle changes favourably affect common carotid intima-media thickness: the Healthy Lifestyle Community Programme (cohort 2)
JF  - Journal of Nutritional Science
N2  - 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.
KW  - plant-based diet
KW  - carotid intima-media thickness
KW  - cardiovascular disease
KW  - atherosclerosis
KW  - lifestyle
Y1  - 2022
UR  - https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-nutritional-science/article/healthy-lifestyle-changes-favourably-affect-common-carotid-intimamedia-thickness-the-healthy-lifestyle-community-programme-cohort-2/DD29870A14031B1EB3DF112B2A381695#article
U6  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/jns.2022.46
VL  - 11
ER  - 
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Koeder, Christian
A1  - Alzughayyar, Dima
A1  - Anand, Corinna
A1  - Kranz, Ragna-Marie
A1  - Husain, Sarah
A1  - Schoch, Nora
A1  - Hahn, Andreas
A1  - Englert, Heike
T1  - The healthful plant-based diet index as a tool for obesity prevention – the Healthy Lifestyle Community Program cohort 3 study
JF  - Obesity Science and Practice
N2  - Background

Worldwide the prevalence of obesity is high, and promoting a shift towards more healthful and more plant-based dietary patterns appears to be one promising strategy to address this issue. A dietary score to assess adherence to a healthy plant-based diet is the healthful plant-based diet index. While there is evidence from cohort studies that an increased healthful plant-based diet index is associated with improved risk markers, evidence from intervention studies is still lacking.
Methods

A lifestyle intervention was conducted with mostly middle-aged and elderly participants from the general population (n = 115). The intervention consisted of a 16-month lifestyle program focusing on a healthy plant-based diet, physical activity, stress management, and community support.
Results

After 10 weeks, significant improvements were seen in dietary quality, body weight, body mass index, waist circumference, total cholesterol, measured and calculated LDL cholesterol, oxidized LDL particles, non-HDL cholesterol, remnant cholesterol, glucose, insulin, blood pressure, and pulse pressure. After 16 months, significant decreases were seen in body weight (-1.8 kg), body mass index (-0.6 kg/m2), and measured LDL cholesterol (-12 mg/dl). Increases in the healthful plant-based diet index were associated with risk marker improvements.
Conclusions

The recommendation of moving towards a plant-based diet appears acceptable and actionable and may improve body weight. The healthful plant-based diet index can be a useful parameter for intervention studies.
Y1  - 2022
U6  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/osp4.649
ER  -