300: Nutritional Benefits of the Planetary Health Diet on Cardiometabolic Risk Biomarkers Among Adolescents: The Spanish SI! Program

Introduction

The impact of early adoption of a sustainable, plant-based diet on cardiometabolic biomarkers remains unexplored. We examine the association between the Planetary Health Diet Index (PHDI) and cardiometabolic risk biomarkers in a prospective 4-year study in Spanish adolescents.

Methods

This observational study was conducted within the SI! Program for Secondary Schools trial (SI! Program) in Spanish adolescents who were followed-up for 4 years, n = 886 (12 years ±0.4; 49,1% female). The PHDI (quartiles) was calculated using a repeated validated food frequency questionnaire. Cox proportional-hazards models (HR) analyzed the association between the PHDI, and the risk of new-onset hypertension, obesity, and increased plasma cardiometabolic biomarkers. Furthermore, mixed models evaluated changes in cardiometabolic parameters.

Results

A high PHDI adherence (Q4 vs Q1) was associated with a risk reduction of 81% of high blood pressure (HR, 0∙19 [95% CI, 0∙11 – 0∙34]), plasma glucose by 47% (HR, 0∙53 [95% CI, 0∙48 – 0∙58]), triglycerides – TG by 96% (HR, 0∙04 [95% CI, 0∙02 – 0∙07]), and total cholesterol by 51% (HR, 0∙49 [95% CI, 0∙34 – 0∙69]) in Cox models. While an inverse association was found between PHDI (Q4 vs Q1), and glucose (-5∙23 mg/dL [95% CI, -10∙35, -0∙10]), TG (-3∙26 mg/dL [95% CI, -4∙38, -2∙14]), and Body Mass Index - BMI z-score (-0∙02 [95% CI, -0∙03, 0∙00]) in mixed models.

Significance

By analyzing data from the SI! Program for 4 years, we show an inverse association following the PHDI, and risk of new-onset high blood pressure, and elevated cardiometabolic risk parameters among adolescents; linked to the consumption of plant-based foods.

Authors: David Murcia-Lesmes, Emily P Laveriano-Santos, Anna Tresserra-Rimbau, Camila Arancibia-Riveros, Ramón Estruch, Juan M Fernández-Alvira, Gloria Santos-Beneit, Valentin Fuster, Rosa M Lamuela-Raventós, Sara Castro-Barquero