Exploring the Potential of Personalized Dietary Advice for Health Improvement in Motivated Individuals With Premetabolic Syndrome: Pretest-Posttest Study.

Sandra Van Der Haar,Tim Van Den Broek,Mariëlle Timmer,Willem J Van Den Brink,Esmée L Doets,André Boorsma,Femke P M Hoevenaars

doi:10.2196/25043

Abstract

BackgroundDietary quality plays an essential role in the prevention and management of metabolic syndrome (MetS).ObjectiveThe aim of this pilot study is to organize personalized dietary advice in a real-life setting and to explore the effects on dietary intake, metabolic health, and perceived health.MethodsWe followed a one-group pretest-posttest design and included 37 individuals at risk of MetS, who indicated motivation to change dietary behavior. For a period of 16 weeks, participants received personalized advice (t=0 and t=8) and feedback (t=0, t=4, t=8, t=12 and t=16) on dietary quality and metabolic health (ie, waist circumference, BMI, blood pressure, lipid profile, fasting glucose levels, and C-peptide). Personalized advice was generated in a two-stage process. In stage 1, an automated algorithm generated advice per food group, integrating data on individual dietary quality (Dutch Healthy Diet Index; total score 8-80) and metabolic health parameters. Stage 2 included a telephone consultation with a trained dietitian to define a personal dietary behavior change strategy and to discuss individual preferences. Dietary quality and metabolic health markers were assessed at t=0, t=8, and t=16. Self-perceived health was evaluated on 7-point Likert scales at t=0 and t=16.ResultsAt the end of the study period, dietary quality was significantly improved compared with the baseline (Dutch Healthy Diet Index +4.3; P<.001). In addition, lipid profile (triglycerides, P=.02; total cholesterol, P=.01; high-density lipoprotein, P<.001; and low-density lipoprotein, P<.001), BMI (P<.001), waist circumference (P=.01), and C-peptide (P=.01) were all significantly improved, whereas plasma glucose increased by 0.23 nmol/L (P=.04). In line with these results, self-perceived health scores were higher at t=16 weeks than at baseline (+0.67; P=.005).ConclusionsThis exploratory study showed that personalized dietary advice resulted in positive effects on dietary behavior, metabolic health, and self-perceived health in motivated pre-MetS adults. The study was performed in a do-it-yourself setting, highlighting the potential of at-home health improvement through dietary changes.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT04595669; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04595669

Highlights

BackgroundMetabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with a two-fold increased risk of cardiovascular diseases and a five-fold increased risk of type 2 diabetes [1,2]
JMIR Form Res 2021 | vol 5 | iss. 6 | e25043 | p. 4 van der Haar et al we focused on food categories that have been shown to be effective for improving metabolic abnormalities due to reducing calorie intake or through direct effects on metabolic parameters
With the aim of exploring the combined behavioral and metabolic health effects in relation to personalized nutrition, we have shown that personalized dietary advice delivered through an automated advice system and discussed by a dietitian with the participant has a significant positive effect on dietary behavior, with a concurring beneficial impact on metabolic health in consumers at risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS)

Summary

Introduction

BackgroundMetabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with a two-fold increased risk of cardiovascular diseases and a five-fold increased risk of type 2 diabetes [1,2]. In stage 1, an automated algorithm generated advice per food group, integrating data on individual dietary quality (Dutch Healthy Diet Index; total score 8-80) and metabolic health parameters. Lipid profile (triglycerides, P=.02; total cholesterol, P=.01; high-density lipoprotein, P

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Methods

Results

Conclusion