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The benefits of the Mediterranean diet in first episode psychosis patients taking antipsychotics
Antipsychotics (APs) can lead to weight gain and metabolic issues, increasing the health burden for individuals with psychosis. This study by Vassilopoulou et al. (2022) aimed to investigate a) the adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet) and the consumption of fermented foods among first-episode psychosis (FEP) patients on APs, compared to age- and BMI-matched healthy controls (HCs), and b) the impact of these dietary patterns on the biochemical and metabolic profiles of FEP patients. The study included 33 FEP patients on APs for less than five years, matched with no other chronic diseases, with an equal number of HCs. FEP patients were divided into two subgroups based on their AP medication’s risk of weight gain. Participants answered a food frequency questionnaire on fermented foods and a validated questionnaire to gauge their adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Anthropometric data and blood measurements were collected for all participants. FEP patients demonstrated significantly lower adherence to the MedDiet, with no notable differences in fermented food consumption. The type of antipsychotic medication revealed differences in platelet count, vitamin B12, HDL cholesterol, and glucose levels between FEP subgroups and HCs, although all values remained within normal ranges. Notably, the MedDiet score was identified as a prognostic factor for abnormal glucose levels in FEP patients on APs associated with weight gain. These findings warrant further investigation to confirm results with long-term adherence to the MedDiet. [NPID: AP, antipsychotic, anti-psychotics, CRP, C-reactive protein, CVD, cardiovascular disease, DM, diabetes mellitus, FEP, first episode psychosis, fermented food, HC, healthy control, HDL-C, HDL cholesterol, inflammation, LDL-C, LDL cholesterol, MedDiet, Mediterranean Diet, metabolic disturbances, TG, triglycerides, hsCRP, high-sensitivity CRP]
Year: 2022
