Effects of dietary supplements on depressive symptoms in older patients
Abstract:
In this prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, we randomly assigned 225 hospitalized acutely ill older patients to receive either normal hospital diet plus 400 mL oral nutritional supplements (106 subjects) or normal hospital diet plus a placebo (119 subjects) daily for 6 weeks. The composition of the supplement was such as to provide 995 kcal for energy and 100% of the Reference Nutrient Intakes for a healthy old person for vitamins and minerals. Outcome measures were 6 weeks and 6 months changes in nutritional status, depressive symptoms and cognitive state.
There were significant differences in symptoms of depression scores in the supplement group compared with the placebo group at 6 months (p = 0.021 for between groups difference). The effect of the supplement was seen in all patient groups including those with no symptoms of depression, mild depression and those with severe depression (p = 0.007).
Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial
Gariballa S, Forster S: Clinical Nutr. 2007 Oct;26(5):545-51.