Navigation
The effect of fruit smoothie supplementation on psychological distress and biomarkers among people with opioid dependence receiving opioid agonist therapy: A randomized controlled trial
The effectiveness of fruit smoothie supplementation on psychological distress
Unhealthy dietary patterns are prevalent among individuals with opioid dependence. While diets rich in fruits and vegetables are associated with mental health benefits, research on this topic in the context of opioid agonist therapy(OAT) remains scarce. This multicenter randomized controlled trial, known as the FruktBAR trial, aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of daily fruit smoothie supplementation in improving psychological well-being among individuals receiving OAT. A total of 311 participants were randomized in a 5:3 ratio to receive either a daily 250 ml fruit smoothie in addition to standard OAT or standard OAT alone for a duration of 16 weeks. The primary outcome measured was the change in psychological distress, assessed using the ten-item Hopkins Symptom Checklist (SCL-10%), from baseline to the conclusion of the intervention. Secondary outcomes included fatigue symptoms, physical fitness, and biomarker levels of carotenoids and folate. At baseline, 70% of participants in the intervention arm and 73% in the control arm reported low fruit and vegetable intake. The mean SCL-10% score at baseline for the intervention group was 43.9%, which decreased to 41.6% by the end of the trial. In the control group, the baseline score was 43.6%, reducing to 41.5%. However, the difference in the change of psychological distress between the two groups was not statistically significant. Furthermore, no significant differences were observed between the intervention and control groups in terms of fatigue symptoms, physical fitness, or biomarker levels. Participants in the intervention arm reported an average consumption of 3.9 fruit smoothies per week (SD 1.5). The findings suggest that while fruit smoothies were delivered effectively, the lack of significant impact on psychological and physical health outcomes may be attributed to suboptimal adherence to the intervention rather than a lack of efficacy. [NPID: fruit, vegetable, opioid, OAT, distress, addiction, withdrawal].
Year: 2025
