Effects of Polyphenol Supplementations on Improving Depression, Anxiety, and Quality of Life in Patients With Depression

Abstract

Background: Increased prevalence of mental disorders has become a significant public health concern. Recent studies have linked nutrition to depression and anxiety, suggesting that dietary changes or nutritional supplementation may be beneficial in improving mental disorders. Polyphenols have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that may counteract physiological changes in depression and anxiety. This study examined the effectiveness of polyphenol supplementation in improving depression, anxiety and quality of life (QoL).Methods: Randomized controlled trials in English and with polyphenol supplementation as the intervention were searched. The primary outcome was depression, and secondary outcomes were anxiety and QoL. Only studies of at least moderate quality based on the Physiotherapy Evidence Database tool were included. Comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis were then used to determine the effect of polyphenol supplementations on improving depression, anxiety and quality of life (QoL) in patients with depression.Results: Nineteen studies with 1,523 participants were included; 18 studies (n = 1,523) were included in the depression meta-analysis, and 5 (n = 188) and 6 (n = 391) in the QoL and anxiety meta-analyses, respectively. Twelve of the 18 studies found significant improvements in depression with polyphenol use, while the meta-analyses results also indicated that polyphenol supplementation significantly improved depression score as compared to control conditions (MD: −2.280, 95% CI: −1.759, −0.133, I2 = 99.465). Although subgroup analyses were conducted a significantly high heterogeneity was still found amongst subgroups. Only 2 of the 5 studies found significant improvements in QoL following polyphenol supplementation and meta-analyses found that polyphenol use did not benefit QoL (MD: −1.344, p < 0.05, I2 = 55.763). For anxiety, 5 of the 6 studies found significant reductions in depression score following polyphenol use but meta-analyses found no significant differences in anxiety score (MD: −0.705, CI: −1.897, 0.487, I2 = 84.06) between polyphenol supplementation and control.Conclusion: The results suggest that polyphenol supplementation is effective in improving depression. Physical illness may act as a risk factor that worsens depression, suggesting the need for preventative supplementation to improve depression. Polyphenol types may have varying effects, which suggests that different populations with depression may benefit from different polyphenols.

Inflammation, Lifestyle Factors, and the Microbiome‐Gut‐Brain Axis: Relevance to Depression and Antidepressant Action

“… 131 However, as shown in this meta‐analysis, different types of polyphenols may have varying beneficial effects (improved fatigue and insomnia, or improvement of somatic symptoms), which suggests that different populations with depression may benefit from different polyphenols. 131 Polyphenols are also important candidates for adjunctive therapy to antidepressants as demonstrated in animal and clinical trials. For example, an adjunctive treatment with the polyphenolic compound curcumin for 12 weeks displayed significant improvements in depression rating scores in patients with MDD when combined with different antidepressants (i.e., fluoxetine, sertraline, mianserin, or trazodone).…”

“…One of the most studied families of biomolecules for human health are polyphenols, which are phytochemicals found abundantly in plant food sources and characterized by the presence of multiple hydroxyl structural units on aromatic rings 130 . Indeed, a meta‐analysis including 18 studies ( n = 1,523) found that polyphenol supplementation has an overall positive impact on improving depression, anxiety, and quality‐of‐life parameters in patients with depression 131 . However, as shown in this meta‐analysis, different types of polyphenols may have varying beneficial effects (improved fatigue and insomnia, or improvement of somatic symptoms), which suggests that different populations with depression may benefit from different polyphenols 131 .…”

“…Indeed, a meta‐analysis including 18 studies ( n = 1,523) found that polyphenol supplementation has an overall positive impact on improving depression, anxiety, and quality‐of‐life parameters in patients with depression 131 . However, as shown in this meta‐analysis, different types of polyphenols may have varying beneficial effects (improved fatigue and insomnia, or improvement of somatic symptoms), which suggests that different populations with depression may benefit from different polyphenols 131 . Polyphenols are also important candidates for adjunctive therapy to antidepressants as demonstrated in animal and clinical trials.…”

Role of Nutrition and Diet on Healthy Mental State

“…Compelling evidence has encouraged research into the complementary use of nutrition supplements plus dietary plans with the aim to impact the pathways implied in psychiatric disorders. Studies have also reported common dietary factors in the underlying processes of anxiety and depression; particularly diets or supplements that are high in antioxidants and anti-inflammatories (such as Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Polyphenol and beta-carotene) have shown an inverse relationship with depression and anxiety severity levels [24,25].…”

Dietary Polyphenols as Prospective Natural-Compound Depression Treatment from the Perspective of Intestinal Microbiota Regulation

“…Increased oxidative stress and elevated inflammatory markers can trigger depressive symptoms [ 24 ]. According to randomized controlled research, antioxidant supplementation for 6 weeks significantly raised plasma antioxidant levels in depressed individuals and was linked to a considerable decrease in depressive symptoms [ 25 ]. Dietary polyphenols are a class of antioxidants that appear in a variety of antioxidant supplements and offer a range of physiological advantages that aid in the treatment of mental diseases.…”