Effects of dietary supplements on depressive symptoms in older patients: a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial.
OBJECTIVE
The effect of nutritional supplements on mental health in older patients has received little attention so far. The aims of this trial were therefore to test the effect of nutritional support on older patient's depressive symptoms and cognitive function.


METHODS
In this prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, we randomly assigned 225 hospitalised acutely ill older patients to receive either normal hospital diet plus 400 mL oral nutritional supplements (106 subjects) or normal hospital diet plus a placebo (119 subjects) daily for 6 weeks. The composition of the supplement was such as to provide 995 kcal for energy and 100% of the Reference Nutrient Intakes for a healthy old person for vitamins and minerals. Outcome measures were 6 weeks and 6 months changes in nutritional status, depressive symptoms and cognitive state.


RESULTS
Randomisation to the supplement group led to a significant increase in red-cell folate and plasma vitamin B12 concentrations, in contrast to a decrease seen in the placebo group. There were significant differences in symptoms of depression scores in the supplement group compared with the placebo group at 6 months (p = 0.021 for between groups difference). The effect of supplement was seen in all patient groups including those with no symptoms of depression, mild depression and those with severe depression (p = 0.007). There was no evidence of a difference in cognitive function scores at 6 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Oral nutritional supplementation of hospitalised acutely ill older patients led to a statistically significant benefit on depressive symptoms.
Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, United Arab Emirate University, UAE. s.gariballa@uaeu.ac.ae
Salah
S
Gariballa
Sarah
S
Forster
D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D003863:Depression / Q000628:therapy*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood; D005526:Food, Formulated; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008903:Minerals / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D009752:Nutritional Status; D009753:Nutritive Value; D010919:Placebos; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014805:Vitamin B 12 / Q000097:blood; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage
D008903:Minerals; D010919:Placebos; D014815:Vitamins; D005492:Folic Acid; D014805:Vitamin B 12