Protocol and Preliminary Results of the Nutritarian Women’s Health Study: A Longitudinal Effectiveness-Implementation Hybrid Study Assessing Dietary Intake and Health Outcomes

Abstract

Whole-food plant-rich dietary patterns have been shown to be associated with significant health benefits and disease-risk reduction. One such program, which has been gaining popularity, is the micronutrient-dense plant-rich (mNDPR) “Nutritarian” diet. The goal of this study is to determine the feasibility of implementing an online mNDPR “Nutritarian” intervention program and to determine the effectiveness of this program in reducing risk of chronic disease in women. The Nutritarian Women’s Health Study is a long-term online longitudinal hybrid effectiveness-implementation study. Participants are recruited through social media, medical professionals/offices, and nutrition-related events and conferences. Participants receive online nutrition education and complete regular self-reported questionnaires regarding lifestyle, nutrition practices, and health. The online intervention program appears to be feasible and effective. Some decline in dietary adherence, particularly for certain food types, was observed during the study. For groups at risk, based on body mass index or waist-to-height ratio, there were initial decreases in body mass index and waist-to-height that leveled off over time, in some cases returning to baseline measures. The study suggests the implementation of the Nutritarian dietary pattern, through an online intervention component, may be effective in reducing the risk of chronic disease, with implications for clinical and public health practice.

A Qualitative Exploration of Pregnancy Experience With a Nutrient-Dense, Plant-Rich Dietary Pattern: A Pilot Study

“…11 The NWHS recruited participants through online media sources including Facebook, numerous healthcare conferences, community seminar promotions, healthcare provider offices, and by word of mouth, and was not specifically targeted for pregnant women. 8 In order to recruit participants for the qualitative interviews, emails were sent to all the participants who identified as pregnant in the NWHS inviting them to share their experience with the Nutritarian Diet while pregnant. Participants who were interested were asked to review and sign a consent form and schedule an interview through an online booking system (Table 1).…”

“…8 The Nutritarian Diet recommends the daily consumption of greens, beans, mushrooms, onions, berries, and seeds; and encourages the limited consumption of animal products and refined foods, including oils. 8 In this context, the definition of diet is habitual dietary patterns and not in reference to a short-term diet designed for weight loss or for medical purposes. When researching the impact of plant-based diets it is important to further define the dietary choices beyond just plant-based or the absence of animal products.…”

“…9 The Nutritarian dietary pattern is an example of a nutrient-dense, long-term plant-based lifestyle that is designed to reduce the likelihood of chronic disease. 8…”

“…6 The participants of this study were asked to follow a nutrient dense, plant-rich dietary pattern referred to as the Nutritarian Diet created by Joel Furhman, MD. 8 The Nutritarian Diet recommends the daily consumption of greens, beans, mushrooms, onions, berries, and seeds; and encourages the limited consumption of animal products and refined foods, including oils. 8 In this context, the definition of diet is habitual dietary patterns and not in reference to a short-term diet designed for weight loss or for medical purposes.…”

“…9 The Nutritarian dietary pattern is an example of a nutrientdense, long-term plant-based lifestyle that is designed to reduce the likelihood of chronic disease. 8 In the United States, between 2017 and 2018, the prevalence of obesity for women of ages 20-39 was 39.7%. 10 Excess weight gain during pregnancy leaves offspring at higher risk of being overweight and developing diet-related chronic diseases later in life.…”