Quality of Life: Psychological Symptoms—Effects of a 2-Month Healthy Diet and Nutraceutical Intervention; A Randomized, Open-Label Intervention Trial (RISTOMED)

Abstract

Depression symptoms and lower health-related quality of life (HRQoL) are associated with inflammation. This multicenter dietary intervention was shown to reduce inflammation in older people. This was the main outcome. Here, we describe the effects on HRQoL, anxiety, and depressive symptoms according to inflammation status. Overall, 125 healthy older subjects (65–80 year) were recruited (Italy, France, and Germany) and randomized into four arms (A, Healthy diet (HD); B, HD plus De Simone Formulation probiotic blend; C, HD plus AISA d-Limonene; D, HD plus Argan oil). The HD was weight maintaining, rich in antioxidant vitamins, polyphenols, polyunsaturated fatty acids (n6: n3 ratio = 3:1), and fiber. Data on inflammatory parameters, mental (MCS) and physical (PCS) component summaries of HRQoL (SF−36), anxiety symptoms (STAI state), and depressive symptoms (CES-D) were collected before and after 56 days of intervention. Body fat mass proportion (BFM) was considered a co-variable. A decrease of CES-D score was seen in the four arms (A: −40.0%, p = 0.001; B: −32.5%, p = 0.023; C: −42.8%, p = 0.004; and D: −33.3%, p = 0.21). Within the subgroups of subjects with medium/high inflammation a similar decrease in CES-D score occurred in all groups (A: −44.8%, p = 0.021; B, −46.7%, p = 0.024; C, −52.2%, p = 0.039; D, −43.8%, p = 0.037). The effect of interventions on CES-D was not related to baseline inflammation. MCS-HRQoL improved in A and C. There was no change in anxiety or PCS-HRQoL. In this trial with no control group, a decrease in depressive symptoms in healthy older volunteers was observed after a 2-month healthy diet intervention, independently of inflammation but with possible limitations due to participation.

The Effect of Probiotics on Health Outcomes in the Elderly: A Systematic Review of Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Studies

“…In addition, in order to increase the homogeneity of the included studies, we only included studies with a placebo control. Three randomized studies conducted in healthy elderly utilized a diet group as the control and lacked a true placebo control; therefore, we did not include these studies [ 100 , 101 , 102 ]. In addition, Meance et al and Matsumoto et al also lacked placebo controls and were excluded [ 103 , 104 ].…”

Gut Biome and Mental Health: Do Probiotics Work?

“…The RISTOMED (an internet-based project initiated for the elderly to prevent gut disturbances) study evaluated the effect of inflammation status on health-related quality of life, symptoms of anxiety, and depression in a healthy older population, as compared to group A (healthy diet), group B (probiotic with a healthy diet), group C (healthy diet plus monoterpene), and group D (healthy diet plus argan oil). The study reported a decrease in depressive symptoms in all four groups, which is attributable to a healthy diet, but found no associations between inflammation status and anxiety and depressive symptoms [ 51 ]. Another study suggested PROVIT (probiotics and vitamins) as an efficient adjunct therapy that could decrease inflammation and manage symptoms based on reductions in depression scores and IL-6 gene expression levels [ 52 ].…”