Whole Food for Families: A Pilot RCT of a Dietary Guidelines-Based Intervention to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes
Overview
- Phase
- N/A
- Intervention
- Whole Foods Counseling Group (Control)
- Conditions
- PreDiabetes
- Sponsor
- Vanderbilt University
- Enrollment
- 30
- Locations
- 1
- Primary Endpoint
- Feasibility and acceptability
- Status
- Recruiting
- Last Updated
- last month
Overview
Brief Summary
This study will address the following aims:
Aim 1 (primary): Conduct a pilot RCT to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, enrollment, and retention rates of adult-child pairs after a 12-week family-centered, non-calorie restricted whole foods diet.
Feasibility: ≥80% participant retention and completion of study outcome measures.
Acceptability: ≥75 adult diet satisfaction via survey report and/or perceived diet satisfaction via focus groups. Aim 2: Conduct a pilot RCT to evaluate the preliminary effectiveness of a non-calorie restricted whole foods diet on adult HbA1c at 12 weeks and adult/child diet quality during the 12-week intervention.
Aim 2a: Evaluate intervention effects on HbA1c measures in adults with prediabetes.
Hypothesis 2a: Adults randomized to the treatment group will have lower HbA1c measures at 12 weeks than those in the control group.
Aim 2b: Evaluate intervention effects on the diet quality (via the 2020 HEI) of adults and children. Hypothesis 2b: Adults and children randomized to the treatment group will have a higher diet quality score during the 12-week intervention period compared to adults and children in the control group.
Aim 3: Conduct family focus groups to understand how SDOH and individual/family needs and preferences may be perceived barriers or facilitators of diet adherence.
Detailed Description
This dietary program is based on empirical evidence showing that a diet pattern that favors minimally processed and whole foods (e.g., whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts) in contrast to diet patterns with greater consumption of highly refined and ultra-processed foods are attributed to greater reductions in HbA1c and fasting plasma glucose and a reduced risk for T2D. This evidence comes primarily from prospective cohort and clinical studies of 1) adult populations without diabetes (including type 2 and pre-diabetes) and 2) adult populations with active T2D. Studies of family dietary interventions for transgenerational T2D prevention are lacking. Studies have focused primarily on structured diet patterns such as the Mediterranean style, Vegetarian or Vegan, Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), carbohydrate-restricted, and low-fat. Evidence supports that the diet patterns most effective for T2D risk reduction focused on primarily whole food consumption (e.g., Mediterranean-style, Vegetarian, and DASH). Yet, less attention has been given to studying the effectiveness of the Dietary Guidelines for American's (DGA) diet pattern which forms the basis of nutrition advice in the U.S. and is the guiding nutrition framework used for federal nutrition policy. Moreover, a benefit of the recent DGA is its customizable approach to diet. Recognizing the importance of a whole foods structured diet and the recent shift of the Dietary Guidelines for American's DGA diet pattern towards a customizable, family-centered, whole foods approach, studies that test the effectiveness of a DGA-structured diet for T2D risk reduction should be prioritized. Before conducting efficacy and effectiveness trails, pilot data is needed to determine the feasibility and acceptability of using this family- centered diet approach in a population at "high risk" for T2D. Applying a family- lens where a transgenerational approach can be used to prevent T2D is necessary. Therefore, this program aims are to test the feasibility and acceptability of delivering a whole foods diet pattern using a family centered approach in a population at risk for T2D- adults with prediabetes and their "at-risk" biological offspring. This study will also test the preliminary effectiveness on the diet's effects on change in adult hemoglobin A1c at 12 months and will assess changes in diet quality during the intervention in adults and offspring.
Investigators
Nadia Markie Sneed
Principal Investigator
Vanderbilt University
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- •For this study, eligible adults will be those that:
- •are 25 to 59 years of age at time of initial screen and identify as a parent to at least one child or adolescent 6-18 years;
- •have a body mass index of between ≥23kg/m2 to \<40kg/m2;
- •have prediabetes (based on American Diabetes Association criteria of either fasting plasma glucose of ≥100 mg/dL, HgbA1c 5.7-6.4%, or 2-hour plasma glucose during 75-g oral glucose tolerance test \[OGTT\] 140 mg/dL to 199 mg/dL) with recent lab values reported within the prior 6-12 months and confirmed by an HbA1c A1cNow+ collected prior to enrollment (\*see comment below);
- •have no special dietary restrictions or food allergies that would prohibit consumption of a variety of foods/beverages;
- •are English speaking;
- •reside in Greater Nashville Tennessee and willing to come to Vanderbilt campus and Vanderbilt University Medical Center for required study visits;
- •are without medical conditions that would limit participation in a diet-related study (e.g., tube feeding, dysphagia, severe food allergy causing anaphylaxis);
- •are able to participate in a 12-week dietary program that requires home preparation/cooking for meals and snacks;
- •For this study, eligible offspring will be those that:
Exclusion Criteria
- •Adult exclusion criteria include:
- •Adults who's HbA1c test is outside of the HbA1c range during screening\* (see details related to screening results)
- •adults outside the specified age range of \<25 years or \>59 years;
- •adults whose body mass index is \<23kg/m2 or those with a body mass index ≥40kg/m2 as that degree of morbid obesity represents a different phenotype where dietary behavioral intervention alone may not be sufficient to achieve weight loss);
- •receiving care by a healthcare provider (i.e., MD, NP, PA) for a complicated diagnosis of prediabetes that requires routine glycemic monitoring or frequent healthcare visits for management/treatment;
- •adults actively participating in any type of weight loss program (dietary or physical activity)
- •adults with a prior history of type 2 diabetes;
- •adults who are not English speaking or have limited English-language proficiency;
- •adults with special dietary restrictions, food allergies, or medical conditions that prohibit participation in a diet-related study;
- •adults with serious mental or neurologic illness that impairs the ability to consent/participate;
Arms & Interventions
Whole Foods Counseling Group (Control)
Participants randomized to the control group will receive dietetic counseling sessions (weeks 1-2) on the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) which is considered a healthy diet pattern for prediabetes. Diet adherence will be assessed with 3-day food diary in weeks 1-12. Study personnel and/or the study RDN will follow up with the participants during the study to review the food diaries.
Whole Foods Healthy Eating Group (Intervention)
The 12-week whole foods intervention consists of 2 phases. The feeding phase (weeks 1-8) is comprised of an intensive 2-week controlled feeding period followed by a 6-week partial feeding period. This diet intervention will encourage the consumption of a whole foods "dietary pattern". The maintenance phase (weeks 9-12) is a 4-week "free-living" period to assess intervention feasibility without food provision or dietetic support.
Intervention: Whole Foods for Families
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Feasibility and acceptability
Time Frame: 12 weeks
Feasibility will be based on ≥80% participant retention and completion of outcome measures (e.g., HbA1c testing, anthropometry, surveys, diet checklists/recalls). Diet acceptability will be based on ≥75% adult diet satisfaction via survey report (using the acceptability measure).
Secondary Outcomes
- Change in Offspring Body Mass Index (BMI) Z Scores(Baseline to 12 weeks)
- Changes in adult Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels(Baseline to 12-14 weeks)
- Change in Offspring Body Mass Index (BMI) percentiles(Baseline to 12 weeks)
- Change in Diet adherence in adults and offspring(Baseline to 12 weeks)
- Changes in adult and offspring diet quality(Baseline to 12 weeks (assessed during study period))
- Change in Adult Body Mass Index (BMI)(Baseline to 12 weeks)
- Change in Adult and Offspring Waist Measurements(Baseline to 12 weeks)
- Change in Offspring Weight(Baseline to 12 weeks)
- Change in Adult Weight(Baseline to 8 weeks and 12 weeks)
- Change in Adult and Offspring Height(Baseline to 12 weeks)