Adherence to a culturally adapted soul food vegan diet among African American adults increases diet quality compared to an omnivorous diet in the NEW Soul Study.

Adherence to a vegan diet may lower risk of cardiovascular disease among African Americans (AAs). Feasibility and sustainability of adopting a vegan diet may be challenging among AAs who live in regions where soul food is a predominant cuisine. Our hypothesis was that AAs randomized to a culturally adapted vegan diet will have greater adherence to their assigned diet compared with those randomized to a culturally adapted omnivorous diet. AAs (N = 113) with overweight/obesity from South Carolina were included. Dietary intake was measured at months 0, 3, 6, and 12 using 24-hour recalls. Adherence was defined based on recommended animal product intake for each group. Differences in nutrient intakes and dietary indices (Alternative Healthy Eating Index 2010 and healthy plant-based diet index) between groups were evaluated using t-tests. At 12 months, adherence was higher to the vegan (51%) versus omnivorous (35%) diet. Participants assigned to the vegan diet had higher intake of carbohydrates (P = .01) and fiber (P < .001), and lower intake of cholesterol P< .001) and protein (P = .001) compared with participants assigned to the omnivorous diet. Participants adherent to the vegan diet had lower cholesterol intake (P < .001) and higher fiber intake (P = .02) compared with those adherent to the omnivorous diet. Compared with those assigned to the omnivorous diet, participants assigned to the vegan diet had higher Alternative Healthy Eating Index 2010 (P = .01) and healthy plant-based diet index (P < .001) scores. AAs with overweight/obesity were more adherent to a culturally adapted vegan diet versus an omnivorous diet after 1 year, and nutrient and food group intake changes were sustained.

A 12-Week Randomized Intervention Comparing the Healthy US, Mediterranean, and Vegetarian Dietary Patterns of the US Dietary Guidelines for Changes in Body Weight, Hemoglobin A1c, Blood Pressure, and Dietary Quality among African American Adults.

BACKGROUND: The US Dietary Guidelines (USDG) form the basis of nutrition guidelines, but the research informing the 3 USDG dietary patterns (Healthy US-Style [H-US], Mediterranean [Med], and vegetarian [Veg]) has been drawn largely from observational studies among White populations. OBJECTIVES: The Dietary Guidelines 3 Diets study was a 3-arm, 12-wk randomly assigned intervention among African American (AA) adults at risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus that tested the 3 USDG dietary patterns. METHODS: The AAs (ages 18-65 y, BMI 25-49.9 kg/m2, and BMI was measured in kg/m2) with ≥3 type 2 diabetes mellitus risk factors were recruited. Weight, HbA1c, blood pressure, and dietary quality (healthy eating index [HEI]) were collected at baseline and 12 wk. In addition, participants attended weekly online classes that were designed using material from the USDG/MyPlate. Repeated measures, mixed models with maximum likelihood estimation, and robust computation of standard errors were tested. RESULTS: Of the 227 participants screened, 63 were eligible (83% female; age 48.0 ± 10.6 y, BMI 35.9 ± 0.8 kg/m2) and randomly assigned to the Healthy US-Style Eating Pattern (H-US) (n = 21, 81% completion), healthy Mediterranean-style eating pattern (Med) (n = 22, 86% completion), or healthy vegetarian eating pattern (Veg) (n = 20, 70% completion) groups. Within-group, but not between groups, weight loss was significant (-2.4 ± 0.7 kg H-US, -2.6 ± 0.7 kg Med, -2.4 ± 0.8 kg Veg; P = 0.97 between group). There was also no significant difference between groups for changes in HbA1c (0.03 ± 0.05% H-US, -0.10 ± 0.05% Med, 0.07 ± 0.06% Veg; P = 0.10), systolic BP (-5.5 ± 2.7 mmHg H-US, -3.2 ± 2.5 mmHg Med, -2.4 ± 2.9 mmHg Veg; P = 0.70), diastolic blood pressure (-5.2 ± 1.8 mmHg H-US, -2.0 ± 1.7 mmHg Med, -3.4 ± 1.9 mmHg Veg; P = 0.41), or HEI (7.1 ± 3.2 H-US, 15.2 ± 3.1 Med, 4.6 ± 3.4 Veg; P = 0.06). Post hoc analyses showed that the Med group had significantly greater improvements in HEI compared to the Veg group (difference = -10.6 ± 4.6; 95% CI: -19.7, -1.4; P = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrates that all 3 USDG dietary patterns lead to significant weight loss among AA adults. However, none of the outcomes were significantly different between groups. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT04981847.

Effect of a Plant-Based vs Omnivorous Soul Food Diet on Weight and Lipid Levels Among African American Adults: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: More African American individuals die from cardiovascular disease (CVD) than any other chronic disease condition. Despite this disparity, African American individuals are underrepresented in nutrition and CVD interventions. Objective: To compare the effects of an entirely plant-based (vegan) or low-fat omnivorous (omni) diet on change in body weight and lipids during a 2-year intervention. Design, Setting, and Participants: The Nutritious Eating With Soul (NEW Soul) study was a 2-year, randomized clinical trial conducted in 2 cohorts (2018-2020 and 2019-2021) that took place in a university teaching kitchen in Columbia, South Carolina (before March 2020), and via online videoconference sessions (after March 2020). Participants included African American adults aged 18 to 65 years with overweight or obesity (body mass index of 25.0-49.9) and without type 2 diabetes, uncontrolled thyroid disease, recent weight loss, or pregnancy. Data assessors and statisticians were blinded to study condition. Data analysis was performed from March to June 2022. Interventions: The intervention included weekly nutrition classes for 6 months biweekly classes for 6 months, and monthly classes for 12 months. Dietary interventions either emphasized no animal product intake (vegan) or a low-fat omnivorous diet (omni). Both dietary patterns emphasized soul food cuisine (traditional African American southern foodways). Main Outcomes and Measures: Primary outcomes included change in body weight and lipid measures at 12 months. Results: There were 568 participants who completed an online screening questionnaire; 409 were excluded and 159 were randomized (77 to the vegan group and 82 to the omni group). Of the 159 participants (mean [SD] age, 48.4 [10.6] years; 126 female [79%]) who began the study, the main outcome of body weight was obtained for 121 participants (76%) at 12 months. There were no differences in outcomes between groups, including 12-month changes in weight (mean, -2.39 kg [95% CI, -3.48 to -1.30 kg] for the vegan group vs -2.03 kg [95% CI, -3.07 to -1.00 kg] for the omni group; P = .64), total cholesterol (-1.05 mg/dL [95% CI, -9.60 to 7.50 mg/dL] for the vegan group vs 1.66 mg/dL [95% CI, -7.20 to 10.50 mg/dL] for the omni group; P = .67), or low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (mean, -2.56 mg/dL [95% CI, -9.52 to 4.40 mg/dL] for the vegan group vs -0.79 mg/dL [95% CI, -7.98 to 6.40 mg/dL] for the omni group; P = .73). Weight loss at 12 months among cohort 1, whose weight was assessed in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic, was significantly greater than that for cohort 2, whose weight was assessed summer 2020 during COVID-19 (-3.45 kg [95% CI, -4.67 to -2.22 kg] vs -1.24 kg [95% CI, -2.24 to -0.25 kg]; P = .01). Conclusions and Relevance: In this randomized clinical trial examining weight loss and CVD risk factor reduction among African American adults, there were no differences between the groups, and the magnitude of changes overall was small. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03354377.

Effective recruitment strategies for African-American men and women: the Nutritious Eating with Soul study.

Previous studies have found it challenging to recruit African-American (AA) participants into health education research studies. The goal of this article is to describe the recruitment methods used for the Nutritious Eating with Soul (NEW Soul) study, a 2-year randomized behavioral health education intervention, conducted in two cohorts, with emphasis on methods used for reaching men. Participants indicated how they learned about the study on an online screening questionnaire from a list of the recruitment strategies we employed. Due to limited recruitment of men in Cohort 1, recruitment strategies for Cohort 2 focused on reaching men. Across the two cohorts, a total of 568 (23% men) participants completed the online screener and 159 (21% men) completed all baseline assessments and enrolled in the study. The most effective methods for completing screening questionnaires were radio ads, referrals from friends and family, TV interviews, social media posts and community events. Men were primarily recruited via radio ads, whereas women were more often recruited through TV and social media. Radio was an effective way to recruit AA adults into nutrition interventions, particularly men. In addition, low-cost methods, such as personal referrals, social media posts and community events were also effective strategies.