Nutrient intake in the GEICO multicenter trial: the effects of a multicomponent worksite intervention.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effects on macro- and micronutrient intake of a nutrition intervention program in corporate settings across the United States.


METHODS
Two hundred and ninety-two individuals who were overweight or had type 2 diabetes were recruited from 10 sites of a US insurance company. Two hundred and seventy-one participants completed baseline diet recalls, and 183 participants completed dietary recalls at 18 weeks. Sites were randomly assigned to an intervention group (five sites) or to a control group (five sites) for 18 weeks. At intervention sites, participants were asked to follow a low-fat vegan diet and attend weekly group meetings. At control sites, participants continued their usual diets. At baseline and 18 weeks, participants completed 2-day diet recalls. Between-group differences in changes in nutrient intake were assessed using an analysis of covariance.


RESULTS
Compared with those in the control group, intervention-group participants significantly reduced the reported intake of total fat (P=0.02), saturated (P=0.006) and monounsaturated fats (P=0.01), cholesterol (P=0.009), protein (P=0.03) and calcium (P=0.02), and increased the intake of carbohydrate (P=0.006), fiber (P=0.002), β-carotene (P=0.01), vitamin C (P=0.003), magnesium (P=0.04) and potassium (P=0.002).


CONCLUSIONS
An 18-week intervention program in a corporate setting reduces intake of total fat, saturated fat and cholesterol and increases the intake of protective nutrients, particularly fiber, β-carotene, vitamin C, magnesium and potassium. The reduction in calcium intake indicates the need for planning for this nutrient.
Department of Clinical Research, Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, Washington, DC, USA.
S
S
Mishra
N D
ND
Barnard
J
J
Gonzales
J
J
Xu
U
U
Agarwal
S
S
Levin
D000328:Adult; D015930:Diet Records; D014676:Diet, Vegetarian; D002149:Energy Intake; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D009786:Occupational Health Services; D017132:Workplace
D018977:Micronutrients