JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Dietary quality plays an essential role in the prevention and management of metabolic syndrome (MetS).

Objective:

We aim to explore the effects of personalised dietary advice on dietary behaviour, metabolic health and self-perceived health in highly motivated pre-MetS subjects in real-life.

Methods:

Over a period of 16 weeks, 37 subjects received personalised dietary advice (t=0, t=8 weeks) and feedback on dietary behaviour and metabolic health status (t=0, t=4, t=8, t=12, t=16 weeks). The advice was generated by an automated algorithm, integrating data on individual assessment of dietary quality (Dutch Healthy Diet Index, DHDI, total score 8-80) and metabolic health parameters (i.e. blood pressure, anthropometrics, lipid profile, glucose levels, C-peptide). Self-perceived health was evaluated on 7-point Likert-scales (1=very unhealthy, 7=very healthy) at t=0 and t=16.

Results:

At the end of the study period, dietary quality was significantly improved as compared to baseline (DHDI +4.3, p < 0.001). Also lipid profile, BMI, waist circumference and C-peptide were significantly improved (p<0.05), whereas plasma glucose increased with 0.23 nmol/L (p = 0.04). Overall metabolic health score improved by 27 percent on a scale from 1 (reference population with MetS subject) to 2 (reference population with healthy subjects) (p<0.001). In line with these results, self-perceived health scores were higher at t=16 weeks as compared to baseline (+0.67, p = 0.005).

Conclusions:

This explorative study showed that personalised dietary advice resulted in positive effects on dietary behaviour, metabolic health and self-perceived health in highly motivated pre-MetS subjects. The study was performed in a do-it-yourself setting, highlighting the potential of at-home health improvement through dietary changes.