Acute Impact of Dietary Pattern and Walking on Postprandial Attention, Mood, and Satiety in Older Adults: A Randomized Crossover Trial

Abstract

Research suggests that attention, mood, and satiety can be influenced by meal composition and postprandial activity. The present study examined whether this hypothesis applies to persons with a risk phenotype for the development of cardiovascular/neurodegenerative diseases. A randomized crossover trial was conducted in subjects with metabolic syndrome traits (n = 26, 8 female, age 70 ± 5, BMI 30.3 ± 2.3 kg/m2). Each subject participated in four interventions: iso-energetic (4300 kJ) meals (Western diet high-fat, WD, and Mediterranean-type diet, MD) followed by either 30 min of moderate walking (4.6 ± 0.1 km/h) or rest. Attention, mood, satiety and plasma cortisol concentrations were measured at fasting and 1.5, 3.0, 4.5 h postprandially. Data were analyzed by linear mixed models. In all interventions, attention increased continuously in the postprandial period (time effect, P < 0.001). After WD, attention was lower after walking compared to resting (meal × activity effect, P < 0.05). Postprandial mood was generally “good” with no intervention effects. Postprandial satiety increased reaching maximum at 1.5 h after meal (time effect, P < 0.001) and was higher after MD compared to WD (meal effect, P < 0.001). In all interventions, plasma cortisol decreased similar to its diurnal variation (time effect, P < 0.001). In our subjects, meal composition had no relevant impact on attention and mood. After typical WD, resting instead of walking seems to have a more beneficial effect on postprandial attention. MD leads to a strong and long-lasting feeling of satiety, possibly resulting in reduced energy intake in the further course of the day and, thus, long-term effect on weight control.

Short-term effects of a Mediterranean-style dietary pattern on cognition and mental well-being: a systematic review of clinical trials

“…All included studies were RCTs, two with a cross-over (30,31) and two with a parallel design (32,33) . All intervened with a MDP and were carried out in non-Mediterranean countries, two Northern European (30,33) and two Australian (31,32) . The sample sizes ranged from 24 (31) to 53 (33) .…”

“…Three of the studies included young females only, with mean (± standard deviation) ages, of 21.1±3.3 (32) , 22.3±3.7 (33) and 25.6±5.2 (31) years (mean ± standard deviation). The remaining study (30) included both males and females with metabolic syndrome traits with a participant mean age of 70±5 years. None of the four RCTs reported any previous cognitive or mental health issues in the participants.…”

“…None of the four RCTs reported any previous cognitive or mental health issues in the participants. Three had a study duration of 10 days, with one (30) examining the physiological response 4.5 hours after the test meal.…”

“…One study (30) implemented a MDP alone or with a physical activity intervention (30 minutes moderate walking).…”

“…In terms of the MDP intervention, in one cross-over study (30) , participants were provided with their test breakfast (4300 kJ) that consisted of ciabatta, smoked salmon, muesli, fruit and vegetables which was described as rich in unsaturated fatty acids, dietary fibre and antioxidative compounds. The remaining three studies did not provide the study foods but rather guided participants in following a MDP.…”