The Impact of Epigallocatechin Gallate and Coconut Oil Treatment on Cortisol Activity and Depression in Multiple Sclerosis Patients

Abstract

(1) Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is pathogenically characterized by high oxidative stress and symptomatically by progressive muscle loss and increased body fat associated with the presence of depression. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) (particularly present in green tea) and ketone bodies (in particular beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB)), whose main source is coconut oil, have shown emotional benefits and body fat loss. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of EGCG and coconut oil on cortisol activity related to fat loss and depression in MS patients. (2) Methods: The study involved 51 MS patients who were randomly divided into an intervention group or a control group. The intervention group received 800 mg of EGCG and 60 mL of coconut oil, which were included in their daily diet for four months. The control group received placebo and all patients followed an isocaloric diet. A blood sample was collected before and after the four-month period, and levels of cortisol, albumin and BHB were measured in serum. In addition, immediately before and after the intervention, anthropometric variables were measured: waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), body fat mass percentage, fat weight, total weight, and muscle mass percentage. Depression was assessed with the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II). (3) Results: No significant changes were obtained in cortisol levels in any of the groups, and there was a significant increase in albumin in the blood of the intervention group only that could lead to a decrease in serum free cortisol. In addition, it was observed a significant decrease in levels of depression and abdominal fat. (4) Conclusions: EGCG combined with coconut oil increase the concentration of albumin in blood and produce less depression in MS patients.

Exploring the Impact of Flavonoids on Symptoms of Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…The 46 included studies were conducted between 1999 and 2021. Thirty-six out of the 46 studies selected were clinical trials [ 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 ] and 10 studies were observational cohort studies [ 65 , 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 , 70 , 71 , 72 , 73 , 74 ]. Among the 36 included clinical trials, 31 were RCTs with an average number of 67.4 randomized participants.…”

“…Most of the studies measured depression symptomatology in disease states, including osteopenia [ 52 ], osteoarthritis [ 45 ], fibromyalgia [ 55 ], multiple sclerosis [ 47 , 63 ], neurodegeneration or age-associated cognitive decline [ 32 , 38 , 39 , 54 ], obesity/overweight [ 34 , 49 ], schizophrenia and bipolar disorder [ 43 , 56 ] and chronic hepatitis C infection [ 44 ]. Sixteen of the studies were in perimenopausal, menopausal, or postmenopausal women [ 31 , 33 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 42 , 48 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 61 , 62 , 64 , 70 , 71 ].…”

“…A wide variety of flavonoids was assessed in the research reports included in this review. The majority of clinical studies assessed the effect of flavonoids consumed via tablets or dry extract capsules [ 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 64 ], liquids [ 38 , 46 , 55 , 63 ] and powder [ 37 ]. The observational studies looked at flavonoids consumed in their biological whole food form.…”

“…The CES-D, designed for large-scale studies, is a 20-item self-report inventory that can be completed in approximately 5 min [ 76 ]. The BDI was used in seven intervention trials [ 34 , 44 , 45 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 61 ]. The BDI is a 21-item, multiple-choice inventory designed to assess the level of key depressive symptoms (e.g., guilt, low self-worth and suicidal ideation) in adults [ 77 ].…”

“…Overall, dietary flavonoids were associated with an improvement in depressive symptoms. The majority of trials ( n = 22) found significant effects of consuming flavonoids on the symptoms of depression [ 29 , 30 , 31 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 41 , 42 , 44 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 51 , 52 , 56 , 58 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 64 ]. Zarghami et al observed a significant decrease in the depression score after flavonoid intervention but the antidepressant drug fluoxetine had a greater anti-depressant activity than flavonoids [ 57 ].…”