Session/Event: Emerging Science: Highlights from Rapid Science Submissions

(ES07-22) 12-Week Plant-Based Nutrition and Lifestyle Intervention To Improve Dietary Behaviors and Cardiovascular Risk Among Black Adults in the Deep South: A Pilot Study

On Demand

Presenting Author(s)

Samara Sterling, PhD

Research Director
The Peanut Institute
Albany, Georgia, United States

Disclosure: Disclosure(s): No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

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Co-Author(s)

SB

Shelly-Ann Bowen

ICF

Objectives: Plant-based diets may reduce risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and help with weight management, particularly in communities where the burden of chronic disease is high. However, little research has been done on plant-based diet implementation in rural Black communities. The Veggie & Soul pilot program was a 12-week plant-based nutrition and lifestyle intervention implemented to prioritize and educate Black adults in rural Georgia about the benefits of a healthy diet and encourage increased consumption of plant foods. The study also examined outcomes related to body composition, cardiovascular risk, and inflammation.

Methods: Weekly nutrition education sessions were implemented, in addition to support groups and cooking classes. Multiple instruments for dietary assessment were collected at baseline and 12 weeks including: (1) food frequency questionnaire; (2) food behavior survey, and (3) two 24-hour dietary recalls (1 weekend and 1 weekday). Anthropometric data (waist/hip circumference, BMI) and biomedical data (lipid panel, hs-CRP) were measured. Paired t-tests explored differences between baseline and 12-week measurements.

Results: Twenty-four participants (22 women, 2 men) completed the intervention. Median weight change was 9.6 lbs. BMI and waist circumference were reduced (p< 0.0001), and total and LDL cholesterol decreased by 10.8% and 13.9%, respectively (p< 0.05). There was a 25.8% reduction in hs-CRP (p=0.018). Participants doubled their daily servings of fruit (p< .001) and reported a 76% increase in daily vegetable servings (p< .001). There was also a 90% increase in daily servings of whole grain (p=0.014). Further, results showed a significant reduction in intake of nutrients to limit including cholesterol (-83%; p< .001), saturated fat (-42%; p< .001), sodium (-28%; p=.004), and added sugars (-54%; p-.002).

Conclusions:

Implementation of a 12-week nutrition and lifestyle intervention among Black adults in the rural South improved reported dietary behaviors, anthropometric outcomes, and cardiovascular risk factors. Long-term interventions are needed that will promote permanent behavior changes to improve health in similar communities.

Funding Sources: American Heart Association Healthy for Life
Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital
Georgia Department of Public Health
Walmart Foundation
Publix Foundation