Weight loss effects from vegetable intake: a 12-month randomised controlled trial

• Published in: European journal of clinical nutrition Vol. 68; no. 7; pp. 778 - 785
• Main Authors: Tapsell, L C, Batterham, M J, Thorne, R L, O'Shea, J E, Grafenauer, S J, Probst, Y C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 01.07.2014; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 692/699/1702/393; 692/699/75; 692/700/2817; 692/700/459/1994; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Glucose - metabolism; Body Mass Index; Caloric Restriction; Cardiovascular diseases; Cholesterol; Cholesterol, HDL - blood; Clinical Nutrition; Clinical trials; Diet; Diet, Reducing; Energy; Energy Intake; Epidemiology; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Health aspects; Health risks; Humans; Hunger; Insulin; Insulin - blood; Intention to Treat Analysis; Internal Medicine; Male; Medical sciences; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Metabolic Diseases; Methods; Obesity - blood; Obesity - diet therapy; Original; original-article; Overweight; Portion Size; Public Health; Risk factors; Satiation; Single-Blind Method; Triglycerides - blood; Vegetables; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Weight control; Weight Loss; Australia; Consumption; Clinical trial; Metabolic diseases; Randomization; Vegetables; Weight loss
• ISSN: 0954-3007; 1476-5640
• DOI: 10.1038/ejcn.2014.39

Background/Objectives: Direct evidence for the effects of vegetable intake on weight loss is qualified. The study aimed to assess the effect of higher vegetable consumption on weight loss. Subjects/Methods: A single blind parallel controlled trial was conducted with 120 overweight adults (mean body mass index=29.98 kg/m 2 ) randomised to two energy deficit healthy diet advice groups differing only by doubling the serving (portion) sizes of vegetables in the comparator group. Data were analysed as intention-to-treat using a linear mixed model. Spearmans rho bivariate was used to explore relationships between percentage energy from vegetables and weight loss. Results: After 12 months, the study sample lost 6.5±5.2 kg ( P <0.001 time) with no difference between groups ( P >0.05 interaction). Both groups increased vegetable intake and lost weight in the first 3 months, and the change in weight was significantly correlated with higher proportions of energy consumed as vegetables (rho=–0.217, P =0.024). Fasting glucose, insulin and triglyceride levels decreased ( P <0.001 time) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels increased ( P <0.001 time), with no difference between groups. Weight loss was sustained for 12 months by both groups, but the comparator group reported greater hunger satisfaction ( P =0.005). Conclusions: Advice to consume a healthy low-energy diet leads to sustained weight loss, with reductions in cardiovascular disease risk factors regardless of an emphasis on more vegetables. In the short term, consuming a higher proportion of the dietary energy as vegetables may support a greater weight loss and the dietary pattern appears sustainable.