Effects of a 6-days-a-week low protein diet regimen on depressive symptoms in young-old type 2 diabetic patients.
OBJECTIVE
Late-life depression is one of the main health problems among elderly diabetic subjects. In addition, depression is a common psychopathological condition among renal failure patients and most of these patients follow a low protein diet regimen (LPD). However, the effects of LPD on depressive symptoms are unclear.


METHODS
In the present study, the effects of LPD regimen on depressive symptoms in elderly type 2 diabetic subjects with renal failure were investigated.


METHODS
Fifty-two young-old type 2 diabetic patients with renal failure were enrolled in the study. All participants after normal protein diet regimen providing 1.2g/kg per d were instructed to consume either a LPD providing 0.8 g/kg per d, 7 d a wk (LPD 7/7), or a LPD providing 0.8 g/kg per d 6 d a wk (LPD 6/7) randomly.


RESULTS
Mean 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) (2.0±0.6) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) (4.1±1.0), during normal protein diet regimen, significantly increased to (6.7±1.6) and (12.2±1.4), respectively, after LPD 7/7 (P<0.05 versus normal protein diet). However, after LPD 6/7, mean GDS-15 and BDI significantly decreased to (4.4±1.5) and (6.7±1.6), respectively (P<0.05 versus LPD 7/7).


CONCLUSIONS
LPD 6/7 regimen significantly decreased depressive symptoms in young-old type 2 diabetic patients.
Ciarambino
Tiziana
T
Department of Gerontology, Geriatrics and Metabolic Diseases, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
Ferrara
Nicoletta
N
Department of Gerontology, Geriatrics and Metabolic Diseases, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
Castellino
Pietro
P
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
Paolisso
Giuseppe
G
Department of Gerontology, Geriatrics and Metabolic Diseases, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
Coppola
Ludovico
L
Department of Gerontology, Geriatrics and Metabolic Diseases, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
Giordano
Mauro
M
Department of Gerontology, Geriatrics and Metabolic Diseases, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy. Electronic address: mauro.giordano@unina2.it.
D000368:Aged; D003863:Depression / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000523:psychology*; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000523:psychology; D018753:Diet, Protein-Restricted; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000209:etiology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D004044:Dietary Proteins