(OR25-04-26) Exploring Associations With Plant Diversity and Health: The ZOE PREDICT 3 Study

Objectives: Diets rich in plants, such as fruits and vegetables, wholegrains, nuts and seeds are associated with reduced risk of major chronic diseases. Increasing plant diversity is gaining popularity, however there is limited evidence for the health benefits of weekly plant diversity targets. This research quantifies plant food diversity in free-living individuals using a digital app to examine associations with health outcomes.

Methods: Participants with baseline logged diet data, health questionnaires and blood markers were identified from a subcohort of UK PREDICT 3 participants (N=1131, NCT04735835). Plant diversity (number of discrete plant foods consumed; counts/week) was determined from 7-days of baseline logged dietary data. Demographics, BMI, HDL-cholesterol, and gut microbiome samples were collected remotely. Regression models identified associations between diversity and health outcomes, adjusted for BMI and diet quality (HEI). Segmented regression identified a potential threshold in the association between plant diversity and BMI.

Results: The median diversity of plants were 9.6 counts/day (IQR 7, 12) and 28 counts/week (IQR 22, 34). Plant diversity was positively correlated with diet quality (HEI) (Spearman's rs = 0.452, p < 2.2e-16) and dietary fibre intake (rs = 0.473, p < 2.2e-16), explaining 20-22% of the variance. Higher weekly plant diversity was associated with lower BMI (B = -0.09 kg/m2; 95%CI: -0.14, -0.04; p < 0.001), higher HDL-cholesterol (B = 0.004 mmol/L; 95%CI: 0.001, 0.01; p=0.036) and ZOE microbiome score (B = 0.581; 95%CI: 0.33, 0.83; p < 0.001). Up to approximately 43 plants (95% CI: 32, 54), BMI decreased with increasing plant diversity (β = −0.10 kg/m² per additional plant, p< 0.001) beyond this point no further reduction was observed (β = 0.13, p=0.60).

Conclusions: In a relatively healthy cohort, greater plant diversity was associated with lower BMI, and more favorable blood lipids and microbiome composition. With technology advancements, improved methods for assessing and incentivising higher diverse plant intakes via apps may drive this simple dietary strategy in free-living individuals.

Funding Sources: ZOE Ltd