Examination of the Effectiveness of the Healthy Empowered Active Lifestyles (HEAL) Program on Advanced Glycation End Products

Mathew J. Gregoski, Janis Newton, Kathleen Blaylock, Sheila A. O. Smith and David P. Turner
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Mathew J. Gregoski: Department of Public Health Sciences, College of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
Janis Newton: Wellness Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
Kathleen Blaylock: Wellness Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
Sheila A. O. Smith: College of Nursing, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
David P. Turner: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, College of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 9, 1-10

Abstract: This pilot study investigated the effectiveness of the healthy empowered active lifestyles (HEAL) program to reduce circulatory levels of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and assess its relationship to BMI, % body fat, fasting glucose, and A1C. The HEAL program was delivered at a local wellness center using a team-based approach and focused on physical activity and dietary education. A sample of twenty primarily European American (19 white, 1 black) participants (i.e., 10 males, 10 females) aged 26 to 71 (m = 48.75 ± 10.26) completed 12 weeks of the HEAL intervention. Pre to post changes in AGEs, BMI, % body fat, fasting glucose, and A1C were examined as primary outcomes. The findings showed participants had the following average reductions: AGEs 36.04 ± 18.48 ug/mL, BMI 2.0 ± 1.2 kg/m 2 , % body fat 3.18 ± 1.57%, fasting glucose 5.9 ± 17.21 mg/dL, and A1C 0.68 ± 1.11%. All twenty participants successfully completed the entire twelve weeks of the HEAL intervention. The results of this study show that the HEAL intervention provides beneficial reductions of AGEs, BMI, % body fat, fasting glucose, and A1C. In addition, the high adherence shows promise, and demonstrates the potential for HEAL as a behavioral intervention to improve pre-diabetic and other inflammatory related comorbidities. Further replication of results via additional randomized controlled trials is needed.

Keywords: lifestyle; physicalactivity; nutrition; health; food; advanced glycation end products (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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