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Effects of polyphenol supplementations on improving depression, anxiety, and quality of life in patients with depression
Mental disorders grew to become an increasing concern for public health across the world. Current research has revealed the existence of a relationship between nutrition and disorders such as depression and anxiety, hinting at the role changes our diet and nutritional supplements may play in improving our mental health. Polyphenols, available in several plants consumed as part of our diet, were found to possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities that can modify the physical changes seen in depression and anxiety. In their study, Lin et al. (2021) aimed to investigate the impact polyphenol supplements may have on depression, anxiety and Quality of Life (QoL). The authors conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials that scored a “moderate” quality or higher (as per the Physiotherapy Evidence Database) and which employed polyphenols to target depression, anxiety and/or QoL. They ultimately selected 18 studies that investigated a total of 1,523 patients suffering from depression, finding that most literature supports a substantial improvement of symptoms of depression and depressive symptoms scores with polyphenol supplementation compared to controls. Furthermore, two out of five studies found substantial improvements in QoL, while in five out of six studies that investigated anxiety, the results showed a substantial improvement in depression scores. However, no differences were found in terms of anxiety symptoms with polyphenol supplementation compared to controls. Thus, the authors conclude that polyphenol supplementation may be a worthwhile treatment option for depression, while acknowledging that physical illnesses and their symptoms exert a notable impact on the course of depression and, hence, they may also benefit from using polyphenol supplements as a preventative measure. The authors comment that due to the various polyphenols available, certain polyphenols may be more effective than others depending on their application, and further work is necessary to identify how distinct varieties of depression could benefit from certain polyphenols compared to others. [NPID: Anxiety, depression, nutrition, polyphenol, quality of life]
Year: 2021
