A Culture-tailored Plant-based Dietary Intervention in Taiwan

The goal of this pilot randomized crossover feasibility trial is to determine the feasibility of a short-term, culture-tailored, plant-based dietary behavior intervention and examine the preliminary outcomes regarding inflammation and metabolic markers in generally healthy adults. The main questions it aimed to answer were: Are the trial design and corresponding outcomes, including recruitment rate, retention rate, meal delivery completion, participant satisfaction, and adverse event occurrence feasible for a future definitive study? Are the clinical outcomes were examined as preliminary secondary endpoints able to generate effect size estimates for future study planning? Participants were: Randomly allocated to group PBD (plant-based diet)-GD (general diet) or group GD-PBD. Group PBD-GD completed the 2-week PBD stage first, crossed over after the 1-week washout period, then completed the 2-week GD stage. Group GD-PBD followed the reverse sequence. Instructed to record their daily dietary intake throughout both stages in a mobile food diary application. Invited to visit the trial venue for the measurements at four time points: before and after each stage.

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Geneally halthy adults who followed an omnivorous diet 2. Willing to adhere to the study interventions Exclusion Criteria: 1. Current treatment for diabetes, cancer, or immune disorders requiring dietary restrictions 2. Participation in any dietary or exercise program within the previous 6 months 3. Antibiotic therapy, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug use, or any surgery within the previous 3 months 4. Shift work 5. Habitual consumption of probiotics or fermented dairy products in daily or occasional frequency 6. Habitual alcohol intake exceeding the recommended daily limits as 20 g for males and 10 g for females