Exploratory analysis of the effect of a controlled lifestyle intervention on inflammatory markers - the Healthy Lifestyle Community Programme (cohort 2)

Christian Koeder; Corinna Anand; Sarah Husain; Ragna-Marie Kranz; Nora Schoch; Dima Alzughayyar; Norman Bitterlich; Andreas Hahn; Heike Englert

doi:10.1186/s40795-023-00684-2

Exploratory analysis of the effect of a controlled lifestyle intervention on inflammatory markers - the Healthy Lifestyle Community Programme (cohort 2)

BMC Nutr. 2023 Feb 6;9(1):25. doi: 10.1186/s40795-023-00684-2.

Authors

Christian Koeder^{1

2}, Corinna Anand³, Sarah Husain³, Ragna-Marie Kranz³, Nora Schoch³, Dima Alzughayyar³, Norman Bitterlich⁴, Andreas Hahn⁵, Heike Englert³

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Leibniz University Hanover, Hanover, Germany. koeder@fh-muenster.de.
² Department of Nutrition, University of Applied Sciences Münster, Münster, Germany. koeder@fh-muenster.de.
³ Department of Nutrition, University of Applied Sciences Münster, Münster, Germany.
⁴ Department of Biostatistics, Medizin & Service GmbH, Chemnitz, Germany.
⁵ Institute of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Leibniz University Hanover, Hanover, Germany.

Abstract

Background: Chronic low-grade inflammation is associated with an increased risk of chronic disease and mortality. The objective of the study was to test the effect of a healthy lifestyle intervention on biomarkers of inflammation (among other risk markers).

Methods: We conducted a non-randomized controlled trial with mostly middle-aged and elderly participants from the general population in rural northwest Germany (intervention: n = 114; control: n = 87). The intervention consisted of a 1-year lifestyle programme focusing on diet (largely plant-based; strongest emphasis), physical activity, stress management, and social support. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) was assessed at baseline, 10 weeks, 6 months, and 1 year. Homocysteine (Hcy) was assessed at baseline, 10 weeks, and 1 year. Adiponectin (Apn) was assessed at baseline and 10 weeks. An exploratory analysis of these inflammatory markers assessing the between-group differences with ANCOVA was conducted.

Results: The 1-year trajectory of hs-CRP was significantly lower in the intervention group compared to control (between-group difference: -0.8 (95% CI -1.2, -0.3) mg/l; p = 0.001; adjusted for baseline). The 1-year trajectory of Hcy was non-significantly higher in the intervention compared to control (between-group difference: 0.2 (95% CI -0.3, 0.7) µmol/l; p = 0.439; adjusted for baseline). From baseline to 10 weeks, Apn decreased significantly more in the intervention group compared to control (between-group difference: -1.6 (95% CI -2.7, -0.5) µg/ml; p = 0.004; adjusted for baseline).

Conclusions: Our study shows that healthy lifestyle changes can lower hs-CRP and Apn levels and are unlikely to significantly affect Hcy levels within 1 year.

Trial registration: German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS; reference: DRKS00018775 , registered 12 Sept 2019; retrospectively registered; www.drks.de ).

Keywords: Adiponectin; C-reactive protein; Cardiovascular disease; Homocysteine; Lifestyle intervention; Plant-based diet; Subclinical inflammation.

Abstract

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