Investigating the efficacy and feasibility of using a whole-of-diet approach to lower circulating levels of C-reactive protein in postmenopausal women: a mixed methods pilot study

Abstract

Abstract Objective Chronic inflammation is associated with obesity and is an underlying pathophysiology for cardiovascular disease (CVD) development in postmenopausal women. This study aims to determine feasibility and efficacy of an anti-inflammatory dietary intervention to lower levels of C-reactive protein in weight stable postmenopausal women with abdominal obesity. Methods This mixed-methods pilot study used a single arm pre-post design. Thirteen women followed a 4-week anti-inflammatory, dietary intervention, optimizing consumption of healthy fats, low glycemic index wholegrains, and dietary antioxidants. Quantitative outcomes included change in inflammatory and metabolic markers. Focus groups were undertaken and thematically analyzed to explore participants lived experience of following the diet. Results There was no significant change in plasma high-sensitivity C-reactive, protein. Despite discouraging weight loss, median (Q1–Q3) body weight decreased by −0.7 (−1.3 to 0 kg, P = 0.02). This was accompanied by reductions in plasma insulin (0.90 [−0.05 to 2.20] mmol/L), Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (0.29 [−0.03 to 0.59]), and low-density lipoprotein:high-density lipoprotein ratio (0.18 [−0.01 to 0.40]) (P ≤ 0.023 for all). Thematic analysis revealed that postmenopausal women have a desire to improve meaningful markers of health status that do not focus on weight. Women were highly engaged with learning about emerging and innovative nutrition topics, favoring a detailed and comprehensive nutrition education style that challenged their proficient health literacy and cooking skills. Conclusions Weight-neutral dietary interventions targeting inflammation can improve metabolic markers and may be a viable strategy for CVD risk reduction in postmenopausal women. To determine effects on inflammatory status, a fully powered and longer-term randomized controlled trial is required.