title: A double-blind, rct testing beneficial modulation of BDNF in middle-aged, life style-stressed subjects: a clue to brain protection?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this prospective study was to see whether LD-1227, a quality-controlled marine nutraceuticals shown to protect experimental stress-induced hyppocampal degeneration, could beneficially modulate BDNF, as measured in the serum, in otherwise healthy but work-stressed individuals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-eight men and women between the ages of 38 and 62 reporting high-demanding work activity but with an overall positive attitude towards their personal life were recruited. Subjects were divided in two group (24 patients each) and blindly supplemented for 2 month with: a) LD-1227 400mg or b) placebo. A third group of healthy non-stressed subjects was used as well. Blood samples were taken before and after the supplementation period. Unstimulated saliva was collected and tested for amylase while serum levels were used to measure BDNF. State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and psychological well-being assessment (PSWB) were measured too. Patients with Val66Met functional polymorphism of BDNF excluded those given their reported association with an impaired release of BDNF.
  
  
  RESULTS
  RESULTS showed that, as compared to healthy, non-stressed individuals, stressed ones has a trend decrease of BDNF and this was significantly increased by LD 12-1227 supplementation and the same inverse phenomenon occurred to salivary amylase (p<0.05). No change was noted in the PSQI score but, either STAI or PSWB tests scored better in LD-1227 supplemented subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present data suggest that LD-1227 is beneficially affecting neuromodulation and related symptoms during common stressful life conditions and may have the potential as tools in a neuroprotective clinical strategy.
authors.affiliation: Peking University Third Hospital & Neuroscience Research Institute , Beijing, China .
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Chui
authors.affiliation: ReGenera Research Group for Aging-Intervention , Milano, Italy .
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marcellino
authors.affiliation: ReGenera Research Group for Aging-Intervention , Milano, Italy .
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marotta
authors.affiliation: Geriatrics and Gerontology Department, Faculty of Medicine - Ain Shams University , Cairo, Egypt .
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sweed
authors.affiliation: WHO-cntr for Traditional Medicine & Biotechnology , University of Milano, Italy .
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Solimene
authors.affiliation: ReGenera Research Group for Aging-Intervention , Milano, Italy .
authors.forename: A I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Vignali
authors.affiliation: Peking University Third Hospital & Neuroscience Research Institute , Beijing, China .
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.affiliation: Geriatrics and Gerontology Department, Faculty of Medicine - Ain Shams University , Cairo, Egypt .
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ayala
authors.affiliation: ReGenera Research Group for Aging-Intervention , Milano, Italy .
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Cagnuolo
authors.affiliation: CMP-Medical Center and Laboratories, Regenerative Medicine Unit , Pavia, Italy .
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zerbinati
keywords: LD-1227; Neurogenesis; Neuroprotection; Stress-induced neurodegeneration