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A combination of green tea, rhodiola, magnesium and B vitamins modulates brain activity and protects against the effects of induced social stress in healthy volunteers.
Boyle, NB, Billington, J, Lawton, C, Quadt, F, Dye, L
Nutritional neuroscience. 2022;25(9):1845-1859
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Stress is a leading cause of work-related time off. Low magnesium intake has been shown to be associated with anxiety and supplementation has been shown to relieve anxiety-related-symptoms, especially when combined with B vitamins. Green tea and rhodiola have also been used to alleviate stress, anxiety, and fatigue, the latter after just 3 days of intake. This randomised control trial of 100 moderately stressed adults aimed to determine the effects of combining magnesium, B vitamins, green tea, and rhodiola after induced social stress. The results showed that supplementation with a combination of magnesium, B vitamins, green tea, and rhodiola induced a relaxed, alert state and lowered stress, anxiety, and mood disturbances. However, it did not affect stress hormones, heart rate or blood pressure in response to stress. It was concluded that combination treatment is a promising therapy for stress. This study could be used by healthcare professionals to recommend the combination of magnesium, B vitamins, green tea, and rhodiola to individuals with social anxiety before they enter a socially stressful situation.
Abstract
BACKGROUND Magnesium (Mg), green tea and rhodiola extracts have, in isolation, been shown to possess stress and anxiety relieving effects. Green tea and rhodiola have been shown to modulate EEG oscillatory brain activity associated with relaxation and stress perception. The combined capacity of these ingredients to confer protective effects under conditions of acute stress has yet to be examined. We tested the hypothesis that a combination of Mg (with B vitamins) + green tea + rhodiola would acutely moderate the effects of stress exposure. METHODS A double blind, randomised, placebo controlled, parallel group design was employed (Clinicaltrials.gov:NCT03262376; 25/0817). One hundred moderately stressed adults received oral supplementation of either (i) Mg + B vitamins + green tea + rhodiola; (ii) Mg + B vitamins + rhodiola; (iii) Mg + B vitamins + green tea; or (iv) placebo. After supplementation participants were exposed to the Trier Social Stress Test. The effects of the study treatments on electroencephalogram (EEG) resting state alpha and theta, subjective state/mood, blood pressure, heart rate variability and salivary cortisol responses after acute stress exposure were assessed. RESULTS The combined treatment significantly increased EEG resting state theta (p < .02) - considered indicative of a relaxed, alert state, attenuated subjective stress, anxiety and mood disturbance, and heightened subjective and autonomic arousal (p < .05). CONCLUSIONS Mg, B vitamins, rhodiola and green tea extracts are a promising combination of ingredients that may enhance coping capacity and offer protection from the negative effects of stress exposure.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03262376.
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Coping Strategies Influence Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Chronic Psychological Stress: A Post Hoc Analysis of A Randomized Pilot Study.
Armborst, D, Bitterlich, N, Alteheld, B, Rösler, D, Metzner, C, Siener, R
Nutrients. 2021;14(1)
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Chronic psychological stress is increasingly recognized as a significant contributor to mental and physiological disorders in modern societies. The individual response to chronic stressors and resulting disorders depends on numerous factors. The aim of this study was to investigate the cardiometabolic risk profile in participants with ‘high’ and ‘very high’ chronic stress loads and the impact of positive and negative coping factors used. This study is a post hoc analysis of a randomised pilot study. For this analysis, baseline data were available for 62 chronic psychologically stressed participants, of whom 61 participants (43 women and 18 men) were included in the intention-to-treat (ITT) population. Results indicate that: - perceiving high chronic stress is significantly associated with the criteria of the metabolic syndrome. - on the contrary, a very high perceived chronic stress load seemed to be rather associated with mental health risk than with cardiometabolic risk. - inflammation and oxidative stress markers significantly correlated with cardiometabolic risk parameters. - stress load can be coped with in diverse ways and that the coping strategy is crucial for cardiometabolic risk. Authors conclude that long-term studies are necessary to examine further adaptations to chronic stress and to evaluate individual stress-management strategies.
Abstract
Chronic psychological stress can result in physiological and mental health risks via the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, sympathoadrenal activity and emotion-focused coping strategies. The impact of different stress loads on cardiometabolic risk is poorly understood. This post hoc analysis of a randomized pilot study was conducted on 61 participants (18-65 years of age) with perceived chronic stress. The Perceived Stress Questionnaire (PSQ30), Psychological Neurological Questionnaire (PNF), anthropometric, clinical and blood parameters were assessed. Subjects were assigned to 'high stress' (HS; PSQ30 score: 0.573 ± 0.057) and 'very high stress' (VHS; PSQ30 score: 0.771 ± 0.069) groups based on the PSQ30. Morning salivary cortisol and CRP were elevated in both groups. Visceral adiposity, elevated blood pressure and metabolic syndrome were significantly more frequent in the HS group vs. the VHS group. The fatty liver index (FLI) was higher (p = 0.045), while the PNF score was lower (p < 0.001) in the HS group. The HS group was comprised of more smokers (p = 0.016). Energy intake and physical activity levels were similar in both groups. Thus, high chronic stress was related to visceral adiposity, FLI, elevated blood pressure and metabolic syndrome in the HS group, while very high chronic stress was associated with psychological-neurological symptoms and a lower cardiometabolic risk in the VHS group, probably due to different coping strategies.
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A lecithin phosphatidylserine and phosphatidic acid complex (PAS) reduces symptoms of the premenstrual syndrome (PMS): Results of a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial.
Schmidt, K, Weber, N, Steiner, M, Meyer, N, Dubberke, A, Rutenberg, D, Hellhammer, J
Clinical nutrition ESPEN. 2018;24:22-30
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PMS is characterized by a cluster of somatic and psychological symptoms of varying severity. These symptoms occur only during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle and resolve during the first days of menses. Recent observational data suggest that supplementation with Lipogen's phosphatidylserine and phosphatidic acid complex (PAS) alleviates these PMS symptoms. The aim of this study was to observe the effects of PAS on PMS symptom severity. This study is a prospective, randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind single centre study with two arms (PAS or placebo). Participants were randomly assigned to one of the two groups. Results show beneficial effects of a daily intake of PAS over 3 cycles on symptom levels as assessed by several well-recognized instruments for PMS evaluation. The PAS complex alleviated the PMS symptoms, providing a safe alternative to standard pharmacological treatment. Authors conclude that their findings merit consideration of developing the PAS complex as a botanical drug for treatment of PMS symptoms.
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Many women experience emotional and physical symptoms around the time of ovulation and more so before menstruation interfering with their daily normal life also known as premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Recent observational data suggest that supplementation with Lipogen's phosphatidylserine (PS) and phosphatidic acid (PA) complex (PAS) alleviates these PMS symptoms. The aim of this study was to confirm these observations on the effects of PAS on PMS symptom severity within a controlled clinical trial setting. METHODS Forty women aged 18-45 years with a diagnosis of PMS were assigned to either take PAS (containing 400 mg PS & 400 mg PA per day) or a matching placebo. The study comprised 5 on-site visits including 1 baseline menstrual cycle followed by 3 treatment cycles. Treatment intake was controlled for by using an electronic device, the Medication Event Monitoring System (MEMS®). Primary outcome of the study was the PMS symptoms severity as assessed by using the Daily Record of Severity of Problems (DRSP). Further, SIPS questionnaire (a German version of the Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool (PSST)), salivary hormone levels (cortisol awakening response (CAR) and evening cortisol levels) as well as serum levels (cortisol, estradiol, progesterone and corticosteroid binding globulin (CBG)) were assessed. RESULTS PMS symptoms as assessed by the DRSP Total score showed a significantly better improvement (p = 0.001) over a 3 cycles PAS intake as compared to placebo. In addition, PAS treated women reported a greater improvement in physical (p = 0.002) and depressive symptoms (p = 0.068). They also reported a lower reduction of productivity (p = 0.052) and a stronger decrease in interference with relationships with others (p = 0.099) compared to the placebo group. No other DRSP scale or item showed significant results. Likewise, the reduction in the number of subjects fulfilling PMS or premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) criteria as classified by the SIPS did not differ between the PAS and the placebo group. For the biomarkers, the salivary cortisol percentage increase of the CAR was significantly less pronounced in the follicular phase of cycle 4 than in the follicular phase of cycle 1 for subjects taking PAS when compared to subjects taking placebo (p = 0.018). Furthermore, the change of serum cortisol levels between visit 1 and visit 5 differed significantly between groups (p = 0.043). While serum cortisol levels of PAS treated females slightly decreased between visit 1 and visit 5, cortisol levels of females treated with placebo increased. For all other biomarkers, no treatment effects were observed over the 4 cycles study period. Overall, this study confirms that a daily intake of PAS, containing 400 mg PS and 400 mg PA, can be considered as safe. CONCLUSIONS Results substantiate the efficacy of PAS in reducing symptoms of PMS. In view of the recent inclusion of severe PMS symptoms (PMDD) in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), the positive results of this clinical study merits consideration of developing the PAS complex as a botanical drug for treatment of PMDD. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION The study is registered at Deutsches Register Klinischer Studien with the registration number DRKS00009005.
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Impact of Experimentally Induced Cognitive Dietary Restraint on Eating Behavior Traits, Appetite Sensations, and Markers of Stress during Energy Restriction in Overweight/Obese Women.
Morin, I, Bégin, C, Maltais-Giguère, J, Bédard, A, Tchernof, A, Lemieux, S
Journal of obesity. 2018;2018:4259389
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The treatment of obesity has become a public health priority given the negative impact of this condition on physical and mental health. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of energy restriction alone or in combination with induced cognitive dietary restraint (CDR) on eating behaviour traits, appetite sensations, and markers of stress in overweight and obese premenopausal women. The study is a single-blinded randomised clinical study which recruited premenopausal women aged between 26 and 50 years. The participants were randomised to either an energy-restriction-plus-induced CDR condition (CDR+group) or an energy-restriction-without induced CDR condition (CDR−group). Results indicate that inducing CDR in a context of energy restriction had no further effects on eating behaviour traits, appetite sensations, and markers of stress in the short term as well as in the longer term than energy restriction alone. Authors conclude that increasing CDR has no negative impact on factors regulating energy balance in the context of energy restriction.
Abstract
Weight loss has been associated with changes in eating behaviors and appetite sensations that favor a regain in body weight. Since traditional weight loss approaches emphasize the importance of increasing cognitive dietary restraint (CDR) to achieve negative energy imbalance, it is difficult to untangle the respective contributions of energy restriction and increases in CDR on factors that can eventually lead to body weight regain. The present study aimed at comparing the effects of energy restriction alone or in combination with experimentally induced CDR on eating behavior traits, appetite sensations, and markers of stress in overweight and obese women. We hypothesized that the combination of energy restriction and induced CDR would lead to more prevalent food cravings, increased appetite sensations, and higher cortisol concentrations than when energy restriction is not coupled with induced CDR. A total of 60 premenopausal women (mean BMI: 32.0 kg/m2; mean age: 39.4 y) were provided with a low energy density diet corresponding to 85% of their energy needs during a 4-week fully controlled period. At the same time, women were randomized to either a condition inducing an increase in CDR (CDR+ group) or a condition in which CDR was not induced (CRD- group). Eating behavior traits (Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire and Food Craving Questionnaire), appetite sensations (after standardized breakfast), and markers of stress (Perceived Stress Scale; postawakening salivary cortisol) were measured before (T = 0 week) and after (T = 4 weeks) the 4-week energy restriction, as well as 3 months later. There was an increase in CDR in the CDR+ group while no such change was observed in the CDR- group (p=0.0037). No between-group differences were observed for disinhibition, hunger, cravings, appetite sensations, perceived stress, and cortisol concentrations. These results suggest that a slight increase in CDR has no negative impact on factors regulating energy balance in the context of energy restriction.
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Placebo-controlled dietary intervention of stress-induced neurovegetative disorders with a specific amino acid composition: a pilot-study.
Chaborski, K, Bitterlich, N, Alteheld, B, Parsi, E, Metzner, C
Nutrition journal. 2015;14:43
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Psychosocial stress leads to altered neuroendocrine functions resulting in imbalances between various neurotransmitters and hormones. Supplementation of amino acids as precursors of neurotransmitters is an important therapeutic approach that may reduce sensitivity to stress. The aim of this study was to investigate whether daily administration of an amino acid and micronutrient mixture could reduce neurovegetative disorders in 32 psychologically stressed patients. Psychological status, serotonin level, cortisol level and dietary intake were recorded at baseline and 12 weeks after amino acid supplementation. This study showed that both treatment and placebo group resulted in a significant decrease of neurovegetative symptoms, indicating that daily supplementation of the amino acid composition used in this study resulted in no improvement of neurovegetative disorders compared with placebo.
Abstract
BACKGROUND Psychosocial stress leads to altered neuroendocrine functions, such as serotonergic dysfunction, as well as alterations of the autonomic nervous system and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)-axis activity resulting in an imbalance between inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmitters. Poor dietary intake of L-tryptophan as a precursor of serotonin increases sensitivity to stress. METHODS This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study investigated the effect of a specific amino acid composition with micronutrients on neurovegetative disorders and the cardiometabolic risk profile in psychosocially stressed patients. 32 patients (18-65 years) were eligible for protocol analysis. Points in the Psychological Neurological Questionnaire (PNF), clinical and blood parameter, in particular the serotonin level, salivary cortisol levels, and dietary intake were evaluated at baseline and 12 weeks after supplementation. RESULTS The intervention in the form of either verum or placebo resulted in both groups in a significant decrease of neurovegetative symptoms. However, patients of the placebo group achieved significantly less points in the PNF compared to the verum group. But the rate of responders (≥10 points loss in PNF) was not significantly different between the groups. The macronutrient intake did not differ between verum and placebo group. On average, the HPA-axis was not disturbed in both groups. Blood serotonin indicated in both groups no significant correlation with dietary tryptophan intake or PNF. CONCLUSIONS Daily supplementation of a specific amino acid composition with micronutrients in psychologically stressed patients resulted in no improvement of neurovegetative disorders as measured by the PNF when compared to the placebo group. TRIAL REGISTRATION Clinical Trials.gov ( NCT01425983 ).