A biphasic response to blueberry supplementation on depressive symptoms in emerging adults: a double-blind randomized controlled trial.

Purpose: The aim of the present study was to examine the acute and chronic effects of wild blueberry supplementation on mood, executive function, and serum biomarkers of neuroplasticity, inflammation, and oxidative stress in emerging adults with moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms. Methods: In th...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Published in:European Journal of Nutrition Vol. 63; no. 4; pp. 1071 - 1089
Main Authors: Velichkov, Martin, Bezur, Zsofia, van Reekum, Carien M., Williams, Claire M.
Format: research tables/charts randomized controlled trial Journal Article
Published: Springer Nature Jun2024
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
fields @attributes:
  recordID: 1
pdfLink:
plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ccm&AN=177559845&site=ehost-live
header:
  @attributes:
    shortDbName: ccm
    uiTerm: 177559845
    longDbName: CINAHL Complete
    uiTag: AN
  controlInfo:
    bkinfo:
    dissinfo:
    jinfo:
      jid:
        14366207
        CR0
      jtl: European Journal of Nutrition
      issn: 14366207
      maglogo: N
    pubinfo:
      dt: Jun2024
      vid: 63
      iid: 4
      pid: 237
      pub: Springer Nature
      place: New York, New York
    artinfo:
      ui:
        177559845
        175176776
        177559845
        177559845
        10.1007/s00394-023-03311-9
        177559845
      ppf: 1071
      ppct: 18
      formats:
        fmt:
          – @attributes:
              type: T
          – @attributes:
              type: P
      tig:
        atl: A biphasic response to blueberry supplementation on depressive symptoms in emerging adults: a double-blind randomized controlled trial.
      aug:
        au:
          Velichkov, Martin
          Bezur, Zsofia
          van Reekum, Carien M.
          Williams, Claire M.
        affil: https://ror.org/05v62cm79 School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, UK
      sug:
        subj:
          Blueberry Therapeutic Use
          Dietary Supplementation
          Depression Drug Therapy
          Severity of Illness
          Affect Drug Effects
          Executive Function Drug Effects
          Biological Markers Blood
          Neuronal Plasticity Drug Effects
          Inflammation Drug Therapy
          Oxidative Stress Drug Effects
          Human
          Male
          Female
          Adult
          Randomized Controlled Trials
          Double-Blind Studies
          Self Report
          Random Assignment
          Placebos
          Analysis of Covariance
          Confidence Intervals
          Descriptive Statistics
          Psychological Tests
          Funding Source
          Adult: 19-44 years
          Male
          Female
      ab: Purpose: The aim of the present study was to examine the acute and chronic effects of wild blueberry supplementation on mood, executive function, and serum biomarkers of neuroplasticity, inflammation, and oxidative stress in emerging adults with moderate-to-severe depressive symptoms. Methods: In this double-blind trial, 60 emerging adults (Mage = 20.0 years, 32% male) with self-reported depressive symptoms were randomly assigned to receive a single blueberry drink (acute phase), followed by 6 weeks of daily blueberry supplementation (chronic phase), or a matched placebo drink. The primary outcome was Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) scores at 6-week follow-up. Further measures included momentary affect (PANAS-X) and accuracy on an executive function task. The data were analyzed using ANCOVAs adjusted for baseline values, sex, and habitual fruit and vegetable intake. Estimated marginal means were calculated to compare the treatment arms. Results: The blueberry drink significantly improved positive affect (p = 0.026) and executive function (p = 0.025) at 2 h post-ingestion, with change scores being positively correlated in the blueberry group (r = 0.424, p = 0.017). However, after six weeks of supplementation the reduction in BDI-II scores was greater in the placebo group by 5.8 points (95% CI: 0.8–10.7, p = 0.023). Generalized anxiety and anhedonia also decreased significantly more in the placebo group. No significant differences were found for any of the biomarkers. Conclusions: Six weeks of wild blueberry supplementation were inferior to placebo in reducing depressive symptoms. Nevertheless, the correlated improvements in positive affect and executive function after a single dose of blueberries point to a beneficial, albeit transient, psychological effect. These contrasting results suggest a biphasic, hormetic-like response that warrants further investigation. Trial registration: NCT04647019, dated 30 November, 2020.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        research
        tables/charts
        randomized controlled trial
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
    refInfo:
    holdings:
      @attributes:
        islocal: N