Table 1.

Demographic characteristics of participants at baseline.

	Fasting and plant–based diet	Standard diet according to DGE
	(n = 25)	(n = 25)
Age	52.8 ± 6.8	51.2 ± 11.5
Female sex	22 (88)	24 (96)
Body mass index, kg/m2	28.39 ± 5.11	27.28 ± 5.7
Current smokers	2 (8)	* 4 (16.7)
Level of education
Upper secondary school	11 (44)	14 (58.3)
University degree or equivalent	14 (56)	10 (41.7)
Occupational status		*
Unemployed°	7 (28)	6 (25)
Working part time+	7 (28)	5 (20.8)
Working full time	11 (44)	13 (54.2)

Values reported are means ± SD or n (%) unless specified otherwise.

^*of n = 24; ° including retirement, sick leave; ⁺ including students.