Key result
A healthy lifestyle intervention significantly lowered the 1-year progression of mean common carotid intima-media thickness compared to no intervention (mean difference -0.012 mm).
Why the study?
Common carotid intima-media thickness (ccIMT) progression is a risk marker for cardiovascular disease, and this study tested whether a healthy lifestyle intervention can beneficially affect ccIMT progression.
Does a healthy lifestyle intervention focusing on a plant-based diet reduce the progression of common carotid intima-media thickness in the general adult population?
Cohort (n=201)
Open-label
No
Does a healthy lifestyle intervention focusing on a plant-based diet reduce the progression of common carotid intima-media thickness in the general adult population?
Mean Difference: -0.012 (95% CI -0.022–-0.002)
Absolute Event Rate: 0.026% vs 0.045%
p-value: p=0.022
A community-based healthy lifestyle intervention emphasizing a plant-based diet may significantly slow the progression of carotid intima-media thickness over 1 year, particularly in individuals with high baseline thickness.
Supports lifestyle modification on surrogate vascular markers; hypothesis-generating and requires RCTs before practice change.
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.
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Koeder et al. (2022) conducted a cohort in General population (n=201). Healthy lifestyle intervention (predominantly plant-based diet, physical activity, stress management, social health) vs. No intervention was evaluated on 1-year trajectory of mean common carotid intima-media thickness (ccIMT) (MD -0.012 mm, 95% CI -0.022 to -0.002, p=0.022). A healthy lifestyle intervention significantly lowered the 1-year progression of mean common carotid intima-media thickness compared to no intervention (mean difference -0.012 mm).
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