Design, Implementation, and Evaluation of a Community-Based Nutritional Intervention Based on the Planetary Health Diet and Its Impact on Dietary Intake, Gut Microbiota Composition, Anthropometric Outcomes, and Environmental Indicators in Rural Women in Querétaro, Mexico
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Completed
- Sponsor
- Enrollment
- 34
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Change in adherence to the Planetary Health Diet
Study Overview
Brief Summary
This study aims to evaluate the impact of a community-based nutritional intervention based on the Planetary Health Diet on dietary patterns, gut microbiota composition, and health indicators in adult women living in rural communities in Querétaro, Mexico.
Participants will receive nutritional education, individualized counseling, and practical workshops focused on improving dietary habits and promoting sustainable food choices. The intervention is designed using behavioral and community-based approaches to facilitate long-term adherence to healthy and environmentally sustainable diets.
Outcomes will be assessed before and after the intervention, including changes in diet quality, anthropometric measures, gut microbiota composition, and environmental impact indicators such as carbon footprint, water use, and land use.
Detailed Description
This study is a community-based, quasi-experimental intervention designed to evaluate the effects of a nutritional program based on the Planetary Health Diet (PHD) on dietary intake, gut microbiota composition, anthropometric outcomes, and environmental sustainability indicators in adult women from rural communities in Querétaro, Mexico.
The intervention is developed using the Intervention Mapping framework and is grounded in Social Cognitive Theory, addressing behavioral, environmental, and psychosocial determinants of dietary practices. The program includes educational sessions, individualized nutritional counseling, and practical workshops focused on sustainable food preparation and dietary behavior change.
Participants are women aged 18 to 59 years residing in rural communities who meet inclusion criteria and provide informed consent. The intervention will be implemented over a defined period, with baseline and post-intervention assessments.
Primary outcomes include adherence to the Planetary Health Diet, measured using the EAT-Lancet Diet Index (ELD-I). Secondary outcomes include changes in gut microbiota composition assessed through 16S rRNA sequencing, anthropometric indicators (weight, BMI, waist circumference), and environmental impact metrics such as carbon footprint, water use, and land use.
Microbiota analysis will be conducted using fecal samples, with DNA extraction, amplification of the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene, sequencing on an Illumina MiSeq platform, and analysis using QIIME software.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Na
- Intervention Model
- Single Group
- Primary Purpose
- Prevention
- Masking
- None
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 18 Years to 59 Years (Adult)
- Sex
- Female
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria
- •Women aged 18 to 59 years
- •Residents of rural communities in Querétaro, Mexico
- •Willing to participate in the study and attend intervention sessions
- •Able to provide informed consent
Exclusion Criteria
- •Pregnant or breastfeeding women
- •Individuals with diagnosed chronic diseases requiring specialized dietary treatment
- •Use of antibiotics or probiotics within the last 3 months prior to baseline assessment
- •Participants unable to complete study procedures or attend intervention sessions
Arms & Interventions
Planetary Health Diet Intervention
Participants receive a community-based nutritional intervention aimed at improving adherence to the Planetary Health Diet. The intervention includes educational sessions, individualized counseling, and practical workshops focused on sustainable dietary practices and behavior change.
Intervention: Community-Based Planetary Health Diet Intervention (Behavioral)
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Change in adherence to the Planetary Health Diet
Time Frame: Baseline to post-intervention (approximately 12 weeks)
Adherence to the Planetary Health Diet will be assessed using the EAT-Lancet Diet Index (ELD-I), which evaluates compliance with recommended intake ranges for key food groups and provides a composite score reflecting diet quality and sustainability. Scores range from 0 to 14, with higher scores indicating greater adherence to the Planetary Health Diet and a more sustainable dietary pattern.
Secondary Outcomes
- Changes in gut microbiota composition(Baseline to post-intervention (approximately 12 weeks))
- Change in dietary carbon footprint(Baseline to post-intervention (approximately 12 weeks))
- Change in dietary water footprint(Baseline to post-intervention (approximately 12 weeks))
- Change in dietary land use(Baseline to post-intervention (approximately 12 weeks))
- Change in total energy intake(Baseline to post-intervention (approximately 12 weeks))
- Change in body weight(Baseline to post-intervention (approximately 12 weeks))
- Change in body mass index(Baseline to post-intervention (approximately 12 weeks))
- Change in waist circumference(Baseline to post-intervention (approximately 12 weeks))
Investigators
Edgar Leon
Postdoctoral Researcher, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro
Universidad Autonoma de Queretaro