Effects of nutrition education on cardio-metabolic outcomes: A randomised clinical trial

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of Full Plate Diet (FPD) on the primary prevention of cardio-metabolic risk factors. Design: Randomised clinical trial. Setting: Drayson Center, Loma Linda University, CA, USA. Methods: Forty individuals were randomly assigned to either an intervention group receiving the FPD health education for 10 weeks or to a control group not receiving this intervention. Comprehensive evaluations of clinical and anthropometric outcomes were conducted at baseline and at the end of intervention. To assess within-group changes and between-group differences, a general linear model was used. Results: Significant reductions in weight (−1.54 kg, 95% confidence interval [CI] −2.5, −.54) and total cholesterol (TC) (−11.7 mg/dL; 95% CI −21.4, −2) and non-significant reductions in means for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (−7.3 mg/dL, 95% CI −16, 1.5) and triglycerides (−18.7 mg/dL, 95% CI −46, 8.5) were observed in the intervention group after 10 weeks compared with baseline. These reductions were non-significantly higher in the intervention compared with the control group. There were no significant mean changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and haemoglobin A1c (A1c) in the intervention group after 10 weeks. Conclusion: A multi-component programme comprising 10 weeks of health education that emphasised the high intake of fibre failed to significantly reduce cardio-metabolic risk factors. It did show a downward trend in triglycerides, TC and body weight that may be of clinical importance suggesting that a future investigation with a longer intervention duration is needed.