A multicomponent lifestyle intervention produces favourable changes in diet quality and cardiometabolic risk indices in hypercholesterolaemic adults

BackgroundTo date, there are no dietary intervention studies available jointly examining the changes produced in cardiometabolic risk indices and diet quality assessed with the Healthy Eating Index 2005 (HEI-2005). The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of a 3-month multicomponent lifestyle intervention on several cardiometabolic risk indices, physical activity levels and diet quality. MethodsA total sample of 108 hypercholesterolaemic adults (40-60years old) were randomised to two intervention groups provided with and instructed to consume daily: (i) plain milk (n=37) or (ii) enriched milk (n=40) respectively; both groups were attending a 3-month dietary counselling programme. For the needs of the present study both intervention groups were analysed together IG: n=77) and were compared against a control group following usual diet (CG: n=31). ResultsRegarding diet quality HEI scores for milk' (P=0.021), dark green/orange vegetables and legumes' (P=0.050) and total HEI score' (P=0.045) were improved in the IG compared to the CG. The IG also improved whole grains' and calories from solid fats, alcoholic beverages and added sugars' scores compared to their baseline values. Both groups improved the total vegetable' HEI score. Regarding physical activity levels and cardiometabolic risk indices, the IG significantly increased the daily number of steps (P=0.005) and decreased body weight (P=0.021), body mass index (P=0.019) and waist circumference (P=0.027) to a higher extent compared to the changes observed in the CG. Moreover, the IG significantly decreased systolic (P=0.001) and diastolic blood pressure (P=0.050) compared to baseline values. ConclusionsThe present study revealed that this 3-month lifestyle and nutrition counselling intervention programme appears to have favourable effects on diet quality, physical activity levels, anthropometric and certain cardiometabolic risk indices.