A worksite programme significantly alters nutrient intakes.
OBJECTIVE
To examine whether a worksite nutrition programme using a low-fat vegan diet could significantly improve nutritional intake.


METHODS
At two corporate sites of the Government Employees Insurance Company, employees who were either overweight (BMI > or = 25 kg/m2) and/or had type 2 diabetes participated in a 22-week worksite-based dietary intervention study.


METHODS
At the intervention site, participants were asked to follow a low-fat vegan diet and participate in weekly group meetings that included instruction and group support (intervention group). At the control site, participants received no instruction (control group). At weeks 0 and 22, participants completed 3 d dietary records to assess energy and nutrient intake.


METHODS
A total of 109 participants (sixty-five intervention and forty-four control).


RESULTS
In the intervention group, reported intake of total fat, trans fat, saturated fat and cholesterol decreased significantly (P < or = 0.001), as did energy and protein (P = 0.01), and vitamin B12 (P = 0.002), compared with the control group. Intake (exclusive of any use of nutritional supplements) of carbohydrate, fibre, vitamin C, magnesium and potassium increased significantly (P < or = 0.0001), as did that for beta-carotene (P = 0.0004), total vitamin A activity (P = 0.004), vitamin K (P = 0.01) and sodium (P = 0.04) in the intervention group, compared with the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study suggests that a worksite vegan nutrition programme increases intakes of protective nutrients, such as fibre, folate and vitamin C, and decreases intakes of total fat, saturated fat and cholesterol.
Levin
Susan M
SM
Washington Center for Clinical Research, Washington, DC 20016, USA. slevin@pcrm.org
Ferdowsian
Hope R
HR
Hoover
Valerie J
VJ
Green
Amber A
AA
Barnard
Neal D
ND
D000328:Adult; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000178:diet therapy*; D004032:Diet / Q000592:standards*; D015930:Diet Records; D018752:Diet, Fat-Restricted; D014676:Diet, Vegetarian; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D009786:Occupational Health Services; D050177:Overweight / Q000178:diet therapy*; D012944:Social Support; D017132:Workplace
D018977:Micronutrients