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Effect of 4 weeks daily wild blueberry supplementation symptoms of depression in adolescents
Fisk, J., Khalid, S., Reynolds, S. A., & Williams, C. M. (2020). Effect of 4 weeks daily wild blueberry supplementation on symptoms of depression in adolescents. The British journal of nutrition, 1–8. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114520000926
Since adolescence represents a vulnerable period for developing depression, Fisk et al. (2020) are exploring the potentially positive effect of consuming foods with high flavonoid content on risk for depressive disorders. A wild blueberry intervention had previously shown its ability to increase positive affect in children and young adults. This present trial investigated the impact of eating wild blueberries daily for 4 weeks on short-term and chronic mood in adolescents. Sixty-four young and healthy subjects (12-17 years old) were randomized to either receive the wild blueberry supplement or a matched placebo. When compared with the placebo group, significantly fewer depressive symptoms were reported after the intervention period by the participants who ate wild blueberries. However, there was no marked difference between these two groups in terms of anxiety symptoms or short-term affect. Further analysis is warranted in order to determine the mechanisms involved in this potential link between flavonoid intake and mood. Wild blueberry supplementation could represent a novel strategy for preventing adolescent depression and improving public mental health. [NPID: intervention, blueberries, fruits, depression, depressive symptoms, flavonoids, children, anxiety, young adults, mood, adolescents, chronic mood, placebo, controlled trial, RCT]
Year: 2020
