Evaluation of flavonoids and enterolactone in overnight urine as intake biomarkers of fruits, vegetables and beverages in the Inter99 cohort study using the method of triads.

Since collection of 24 h urine samples is very time consuming and difficult to obtain, epidemiological studies typically only obtain spot urine samples. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether flavonoids and enterolactone in overnight urine could substitute flavonoids and enterolactone in 24 h urine as an alternative and more feasible biomarker of fruit, vegetable and beverage intake. A total of 191 individuals in the Inter99 cohort in Denmark completed the validation study. Concentrations of nine urinary flavonoid aglycones (quercetin, isorhamnetin, tamarixetin, kaempferol, hesperetin, naringenin, eriodictyol, phloretin and apigenin) and enterolactone were determined in overnight and 24 h urine samples, and their validity as biomarkers of fruit, vegetable and beverage intake was evaluated in relation to two independent reference methods (Inter99 FFQ data and plasma carotenoids) by using the method of triads. The intakes of fruit, juice, vegetables and tea reported in the FFQ were reflected by the flavonoid biomarker both in overnight and 24 h urine samples. Validity coefficients for the flavonoid biomarker in overnight urine ranged from 0·39 to 0·49, while the corresponding validity coefficients for the biomarker in 24 h urine ranged from 0·43 to 0·66. Although the validity coefficients were lower for overnight urine than for the 24 h urine flavonoid biomarker, they were still of acceptable magnitude. In conclusion, the results indicate that flavonoids and enterolactone in overnight urine samples may be used as a more feasible biomarker than 24 h urine for the assessment and validation of fruit, juice, vegetable and tea intakes in epidemiological studies.

The impact of a population-based multi-factorial lifestyle intervention on alcohol intake: the Inter99 study.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of screening and five years of multi-factorial lifestyle intervention on changes in alcohol intake in a general population. METHODS: The study was a pre-randomized intervention study on lifestyle, Inter99 (1999-2006), Copenhagen, Denmark. Participants in the intervention group (n=6 091) had at baseline a medical health examination and a face-to-face lifestyle counselling. Individuals at high risk of ischemic heart disease were repeatedly offered both individual and group-based counselling. The control group (n=3 324) was followed by questionnaires. Alcohol intake was measured by questionnaires. Changes were analysed by multilevel analyses. RESULTS: Binge drinking decreased both in men and women at three and five-year follow-ups (men: five-year: net-change:-0.13; p=0.03; women: five-year: net-change:-0.08; p=0.04). Furthermore, in women the ratio between wine and total alcohol was increased compared with the control group at five-year follow-up (net-change: 0.04; p<0.01). In men with a high intake of alcohol (>21 drinks per week) the effect on total alcohol intake was maintained at five-year follow-up (net-change: -3.7; p=0.01). No significant effects were found in women on total alcohol intake. CONCLUSION: Multi-factorial lifestyle intervention, including low intensity alcohol intervention, improved long-term alcohol habits in a general population.

The effect of adding group-based counselling to individual lifestyle counselling on changes in dietary intake. The Inter99 study--a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have investigated the specific effect of single intervention components in randomized controlled trials. The purpose was to investigate the effect of adding group-based diet and exercise counselling to individual life-style counselling on long-term changes in dietary habits. METHODS: The study was a randomized controlled intervention study. From a general Danish population, aged 30 to 60 years (n = 61,301), two random sample were drawn (group A, n = 11,708; group B, n = 1,308). Subjects were invited for a health screening program. Participation rate was 52.5%. All participants received individual life-style counselling. Individuals at high risk of ischemic heart disease in group A were furthermore offered group-based life-style counselling. The intervention was repeated for high-risk individuals after one and three years. At five-year follow-up all participants were invited for a health examination. High risk individuals were included in this study (n = 2 356) and changes in dietary intake were analyzed using multilevel linear regression analyses. RESULTS: At one-year follow-up group A had significantly increased the unsaturated/saturated fat ratio compared to group B and in men a significantly greater decrease in saturated fat intake was found in group A compared to group B (net change: -1.13 E%; P = 0.003). No differences were found between group A and B at three-year follow-up. At five-year follow-up group A had significantly increased the unsaturated/saturated fat ratio (net change: 0.09; P = 0.01) and the fish intake compared to group B (net change: 5.4 g/day; P = 0.05). Further, in men a non-significant tendency of a greater decrease was found at five year follow-up in group A compared to group B (net change: -0.68 E%; P = 0.10). The intake of fibre and vegetables increased in both groups, however, no significant difference was found between the groups. No differences between groups were found for saturated fat intake in women. CONCLUSION: Offering group-based counselling in addition to individual counselling resulted in small, but significantly improved dietary habits at five-year follow-up and a tendency of better maintenance, compared to individual counselling alone. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The Inter99 study was approved by the local Ethics Committee (KA 98 155) and is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (registration number: NCT00289237).

The impact of a population-based multi-factorial lifestyle intervention on changes in long-term dietary habits: the Inter99 study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of a population-based multi-factorial lifestyle intervention on long-term changes in dietary habits compared to a non-intervention control group. METHODS: The study was a randomized controlled lifestyle intervention study, Inter99 (1999-2006), Copenhagen, Denmark, using a high-risk strategy. Participants in the intervention group (n=6 091) had at baseline a medical health-examination and a face-to-face lifestyle counselling. Individuals at high risk of ischemic heart disease were repeatedly offered both individual and group-based counselling. The control group (n=3 324) was followed by questionnaires. Dietary habits were measured by a validated 48-item food frequency questionnaire and changes were analyzed by multilevel analyses. RESULTS: At the 5-year follow-up the intervention group compared to the control group had significantly increased their intake of vegetables (men: net-change: 23 g/week; p=0.04; women: net-change: 27 g/week; p=0.005) and decreased the intake of highly saturated fats used on bread and for cooking (men: OR=0.59 (0.41-0.86); women: OR=0.42 (0.30-0.59)). Significant effects on fruit and fish intake were found at the 3-year follow-up but the effect attenuated at the 5-year follow-up. CONCLUSION: A population-based multi-factorial lifestyle intervention promoted significant greater beneficial long-term dietary changes compared to the control group, especially the intake of vegetables and saturated fat was improved.

Diet and exercise intervention in a general population--mediators of participation and adherence: the Inter99 study.

BACKGROUND: Drop-out rates are high in many lifestyle programmes. To promote adherence, the aim of this study was to identify mediators of participation in a diet and exercise (DE) intervention in a general population. METHODS: Data were baseline data from a randomized non-pharmacological clinical trial in Copenhagen during 1999-2001. The participation rate was 53.3%. Participants at high risk of ischaemic heart disease (IHD) and who were offered participation in a DE counselling group intervention were included (N = 2022). Clinical characteristics, and demographic, psychosocial and lifestyle factors were measured. RESULTS: Mediators of acceptance of participation were awareness of an unhealthy lifestyle or a bad health, low self-rated care of own health, perceived susceptibility of cardiovascular disease (CVD; overall and associated with lifestyle), high degree of motivation towards dietary changes and low self-efficacy about increasing physical activity. Overweight and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT)/screen-detected diabetes predicted acceptance whereas an absolute risk score for IHD was inverse associated with acceptance. Mediators of high adherence were low self-efficacy about changing dietary habits and perceived susceptibility of CVD and furthermore screen-detected diabetes and overweight predicted high adherence. CONCLUSION: Awareness of unhealthy lifestyle, perceived susceptibility of disease and motivation towards lifestyle changes were important mediators of participation. Screen-detected diabetes/IGT predicted participation and adherence whereas overweight individuals were more likely to accept but also to drop out of the course. The use of an absolute risk score in health promotion should be further evaluated.