Functional medicine health coaching improved elimination diet compliance and patient-reported health outcomes: Results from a randomized controlled trial.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Individual randomized controlled trial
PubMed 38394515 · doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000037148
What was done
A 10-week parallel-arm randomized controlled trial evaluated whether 5 virtual functional medicine health coaching sessions improved outcomes of an elimination diet compared to a self-guided elimination diet. A total of 125 healthcare professionals were randomized (n = 64 intervention, n = 61 control). Endpoints included PROMIS Global Health (GH), the Medical Symptoms Questionnaire (MSQ), and dietary compliance, analyzed via paired t-tests within groups, unpaired t-tests between groups, and subgroup analysis based on baseline symptom severity.
What was found
Both arms achieved statistically significant within-group improvements: intervention (PROMIS GH-physical = 4.68, PROMIS GH-mental = 3.53, MSQ = 28.9) and control (PROMIS GH-physical = 48.4 as reported in the abstract, PROMIS GH-mental = 3.18, MSQ = 24.1). No statistically significant between-group differences were found in the primary analysis (P > .1). Among participants with higher baseline symptomatology, the coaching group showed statistically significant improvements over control in PROMIS GH-mental health (3.90, P = .0038) and MSQ (12.3, P = .047). Quantitative compliance numbers were not provided in the abstract.
Why it matters
This trial suggests that health coaching does not provide broad additive benefit over self-guided elimination diets for unselected cohorts, though it may offer value for patients starting with higher symptom burdens.
Limits
The study was conducted exclusively in healthcare professionals, limiting generalizability. The primary between-group outcome was null, with positive findings restricted to secondary subgroup analyses. Numeric compliance outcomes were omitted from the abstract.
Cited by
- context A 10-day elimination diet resulted in a 70% reduction in all symptoms across all diseases based on a graded symptom questionnaire administered to thousands of people.