Christian Koeder, Department of Nutrition, University of Applied Sciences Münster, Corrensstr. 25, 48149 Münster, Germany;
J Nutr Health Aging. 2021;25(7):869-877. doi: 10.1007/s12603-021-1628-0.
The intima-media thickness of the common carotid artery (ccIMT) is an established risk marker for cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, it is unclear whether lifestyle interventions can easily demonstrate an improvement in ccIMT. The objective was to test if our intervention would beneficially affect ccIMT (among other CVD markers).
Non-randomized controlled trial.
Rural northwest Germany.
Middle-aged and elderly participants from the general population (intervention: n = 114; control: n = 87).
A community-based, 6-month controlled lifestyle intervention focusing on four areas of lifestyle change: a plant-based diet, physical activity, stress management, and an improved social life. A strong emphasis was on dietary change.
We tested whether ccIMT change from baseline to 6 months was different between groups.
With all participants included, no significant difference in mean ccIMT change between groups was observed (p = 0.708). However, in a subgroup analysis with participants with high baseline mean ccIMT (≥0.800 mm) a significant difference in mean ccIMT change between intervention (-0.023 [95% CI -0.052, 0.007] mm; n = 22; baseline mean ccIMT: 0.884 ± 0.015 mm) and control (0.041 [95% CI 0.009, 0.073] mm; n = 13; baseline mean ccIMT: 0.881 ± 0.022 mm) was observed (p = 0.004). Adjusting for potential confounders did not substantially alter the results.
The results indicate that healthy lifestyle changes can beneficially affect ccIMT within 6 months and that such a beneficial effect may be more easily demonstrated if participants with high baseline ccIMT are recruited. The observed effect is of relevance for the prevention of CVD events, including myocardial infarction and stroke.
颈总动脉内膜-中层厚度（ccIMT）是心血管疾病（CVD）的既定风险标志物。然而，目前尚不清楚生活方式干预是否能轻易显示出 ccIMT 的改善。本研究旨在测试我们的干预措施是否会对 ccIMT（以及其他 CVD 标志物）产生有益影响。
非随机对照试验。
德国西北部农村。
来自普通人群的中老年参与者（干预组：n=114；对照组：n=87）。
一项基于社区的、为期 6 个月的对照生活方式干预，重点关注生活方式改变的四个方面：植物性饮食、身体活动、压力管理和改善社交生活。非常强调饮食改变。
我们测试了从基线到 6 个月时 ccIMT 的变化在组间是否不同。
在所有参与者中，组间平均 ccIMT 变化无显著差异（p=0.708）。然而，在基线平均 ccIMT 较高（≥0.800mm）的参与者亚组分析中，干预组（-0.023[95%CI-0.052，0.007]mm；n=22；基线平均 ccIMT：0.884±0.015mm）和对照组（0.041[95%CI0.009，0.073]mm；n=13；基线平均 ccIMT：0.881±0.022mm）之间的平均 ccIMT 变化存在显著差异（p=0.004）。调整潜在混杂因素后，结果并未发生实质性改变。
结果表明，健康的生活方式改变可以在 6 个月内对 ccIMT 产生有益影响，如果招募基线 ccIMT 较高的参与者，可能更容易显示出这种有益效果。观察到的效果与预防 CVD 事件（包括心肌梗死和中风）相关。
