Clinical Research:
Lifestyle Medicine has been shown to be an effective way to prevent and reverse to a large extent many of the common ailments that affect our patients. The evidence for Lifestyle Medicine is growing daily. These illnesses include Obesity, Hypertension, Diabetes, Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, and Coronary Artery Disease.
Hypertension
- Low-sodium diets were shown to significantly decrease blood-pressures in patients in a double-blinded study.
- MacGregor GA, Markandu ND, Sagnella GA, Singer DR, Cappuccio FP. Double-blind study of three sodium intakes and long-term effects of sodium restriction in essential hypertension. Lancet . 1989;2(8674):1244–7.
- For adults between the ages of 20 and 50, the number one source of sodium in their diets is chicken.
- Drewnowski A, Rehm CD. Sodium intakes of US children and adults from foods and beverages by location of origin and by specific food source. Nutrients . 2013;5(6):1840–55.
- A prospective, double-blinded, placebo-controlled randomized trial showed significant blood pressure lowering effect of dietary flaxseed.
- Rodriguez-Leyva D, Weighell W, Edel AL, et al. Potent antihypertensive action of dietary flaxseed in hypertensive patients. Hypertension . 2013;62(6):1081–9.
- A randomized control trial showed significant blood pressure lowering amongst those who had an intensive lifestyle interventions versus advice only.
- Chobanian AV, Bakris GL, Black HR, et al. Seventh report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure. Hypertension . 2003;42(6):1206–52.
Obesity
- Intensive Lifestyle interventions including diet, exercise, and behavioural changes lead to sustained weight loss, as well as improved glucose tolerance, improved physical functioning, and reduced incidence of hypertension.
- McTigue KM, Hess R, Ziouras J. Obesity in older adults: a systematic review of the evidence for diagnosis and treatment. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2006 Sep;14(9):1485-97.
- The Nurses Health Study showed that those with the highest intake of fruits and vegetables had a 24% decrease in risk for becoming obese.
- He K, Hu FB, Colditz GA et al. Changes in intake of fruits and vegetables in relation to risk of obesity and weight gain among middle-aged women. Int J ObesRelatMetabDisord. 2004 Dec;28(12):1569-74.
- Exercise prevents the loss of muscle tissue and increases visceral fat loss.
- Hansen D, Dendale P, Berger J, van Loon LJ, Meeusen R. The effects of exercise training on fat-mass loss in obese patients during energy intake restriction. Sports Med. 2007;37(1):31-46.
Diabetes
- The Look AHEAD trial showed the the lifestyle intervention group had significant reduction in A1C, reduction in weight, and improvement in physical fitness.
- The Look AHEAD Research Group: Reduction in weight and cardiovascular disease risk factors in individuals with type 2 diabetes: one-year results of the Look AHEAD trial. Diabetes Care 2007; 30:1374– 1383[
- A study of 89 000 Californians showed that vegans decreased their risk of developing Diabetes by 78%.
- Tonstad S, Stewart K, Oda K, Batech M, Herring RP, Fraser GE. Vegetarian diets and incidence of diabetes in the Adventist Health Study-2. NutrMetabCardiovascDis . 2013;23(4):292–9.
- A review looking at various diets found patients consuming plant-based meals had improved glycemic control and improved cardiovascular outcomes.
- Trapp CB, Barnard ND. Usefulness of vegetarian and vegan diets for treating type 2 diabetes. CurrDiabRep . 2010;10(2):152–8.
- A pilot study of thirteen patients showed that after 7 months on a high-fibre, low-fat plant-based diet, the average A1c dropped from 8.2 to 5.8.
- Dunaief DM, Fuhrman J, Dunaief JL, et al. Glycemic and cardiovascular parameters improved in type 2 diabetes with the high nutrient density (HND) diet. Open J PrevMed . 2012;2(3):364–71.
Coronary Artery Disease
- The Lifestyle Heart Trial showed conclusive evidence that intensive lifestyle changes can regress coronary atherosclerosis.
- Ornish D, et al. Can lifestyle changes reverse coronary heart disease? The Lifestyle Heart Trial. Lancet 1990 Jul 21;336(8708):129-33.
- Ornish D, et al. Intensive lifestyle changes for reversal of coronary heart disease. JAMA 1998 Dec 16;280(23):2001-7.
Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
- A review of studies showed that intensive Lifestyle interventions including counselling regarding nutrition and exercise helped with weight reduction and an improvement in liver histology.
- 302. Bellentani S, Dalle Grave R, Suppini A, Marchesini G; Fatty Liver Italian Network. Behavior therapy for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease: The need for a multidisciplinary approach. Hepatology. 2008 Feb;47(2):746-54