title: Placebo-controlled dietary intervention of stress-induced neurovegetative disorders with a specific amino acid composition: a pilot-study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Psychosocial stress leads to altered neuroendocrine functions, such as serotonergic dysfunction, as well as alterations of the autonomic nervous system and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)-axis activity resulting in an imbalance between inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmitters. Poor dietary intake of L-tryptophan as a precursor of serotonin increases sensitivity to stress.
  
  
  METHODS
  This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study investigated the effect of a specific amino acid composition with micronutrients on neurovegetative disorders and the cardiometabolic risk profile in psychosocially stressed patients. 32 patients (18-65 years) were eligible for protocol analysis. Points in the Psychological Neurological Questionnaire (PNF), clinical and blood parameter, in particular the serotonin level, salivary cortisol levels, and dietary intake were evaluated at baseline and 12 weeks after supplementation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The intervention in the form of either verum or placebo resulted in both groups in a significant decrease of neurovegetative symptoms. However, patients of the placebo group achieved significantly less points in the PNF compared to the verum group. But the rate of responders (≥10 points loss in PNF) was not significantly different between the groups. The macronutrient intake did not differ between verum and placebo group. On average, the HPA-axis was not disturbed in both groups. Blood serotonin indicated in both groups no significant correlation with dietary tryptophan intake or PNF.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Daily supplementation of a specific amino acid composition with micronutrients in psychologically stressed patients resulted in no improvement of neurovegetative disorders as measured by the PNF when compared to the placebo group.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Clinical Trials.gov ( NCT01425983 ).
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Nutritional Physiology, University of Bonn, Endenicher Allee 11-13, D-53115, Bonn, Germany. kachab@uni-bonn.de.
authors.forename: Katrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chaborski
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, Medicine and Service Ltd, Boettcherstr. 10, D-09117, Chemnitz, Germany. bitterlich@medizinservice-sachsen.de.
authors.forename: Norman
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bitterlich
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Nutritional Physiology, University of Bonn, Endenicher Allee 11-13, D-53115, Bonn, Germany. b.alteheld@uni-bonn.de.
authors.forename: Birgit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Alteheld
authors.affiliation: Outpatient Practice of Cardiology/Angiology, Suermondtstr. 13, D-13053, Berlin, Germany. elke.parsi@t-online.de.
authors.forename: Elke
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Parsi
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine III, University Hospital, RWTH, Pauwelsstraße 44, D-52074, Aachen, Germany. christine.metzner@rwth-aachen.de.|Bonn Education Association for Dietetics r. A., Fuerst-Pueckler-Str. 44, D-50935, Cologne, Germany. christine.metzner@rwth-aachen.de.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Metzner
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000097:blood*; D001342:Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D004035:Diet Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000032:analysis; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000378:metabolism; D012463:Saliva / Q000187:drug effects; D012701:Serotonin / Q000097:blood; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000178:diet therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids; D018977:Micronutrients; D012701:Serotonin; D014364:Tryptophan; D006854:Hydrocortisone