Unravelling the ´healthy´ in a healthy lifestyle: Dietary influences on subjective wellbeing and physical health
General, Cognitive and Mathematical Psychology
Public Health, Healthcare Research, Social and Occupational Medicine
Final Report Abstract
Stress-related and metabolic disorders are on the rise, leading to serious consequences for individuals and healthcare systems. Studies suggest that a vegetarian diet may protect against metabolic and inflammatory diseases. It is largely unclear whether the neuroendocrine system is also affected by diet. This study aimed to determine the effects of a two-month ovo-lacto-vegetarian diet on mood, subjective stress, glucose metabolism, and stress responses in healthy men. The study used a randomized controlled trial design to assess the effects of a two-month ovo-lactovegetarian diet on various health outcomes, including glucose metabolism, stress responses, and mental health. The study employed various methods, including questionnaires, laboratory tests (oral glucose tolerance test, psychosocial stress test), and e-diaries. Nine-two omnivorous eating men were randomly assigned to either the intervention group (two-month ovo-lacto-vegetarian diet) or control group (maintain dietary habits). Some subjects dropped out, so that in the end 62 subjects (n=37 intervention group, n=25 control group) underwent all study procedures. Results showed that the diet led to moderate increases in well-being but did not affect affective symptoms (depression, anxiety, stress). Life satisfaction decreased in both groups. E-diary data did not suggest a major effect on initial or subsequent well-being during the intervention and in the four weeks after returning to usual dietary habits. The diet did not have a significant effect on glucose metabolism, neuroendocrine, or inflammatory stress responses in healthy men. In conclusion, short-term abstinence from meat and fish does not affect (neuro)endocrine and immune function in healthy men. From a public health nutrition perspective, the study had a promising finding: this shortterm dietary change had no or only negligible effects on subjective mood and stress levels, two important factors that influence motivation and barriers to adopting and maintaining lifestyle changes.
Publications
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Effects of a two-month vegetarian diet intervention on (neuro-) endocrine functioning in men. 37th Annual Conference of the European Health Psychology Society, Sep 4-8, Bremen, Germany
Strahler, J.
