The Effects of an Anti-inflammatory Diet Alone or in Combination with Acupuncture on Mental Health, Anthropometric Indices, and Metabolic Status in Diabetic Patients with Depression: A Randomized, Controlled Clinical Trial

Abstract

Background The present clinical trial examined the efficacy of an anti-inflammatory diet combined with acupuncture to an anti-inflammatory diet alone and common treatment in depressed patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Methods In this randomized controlled clinical trial, 90 patients with T2DM suffering from mild to moderate depression were included. They were randomly allocated to one of 3 groups: (i) acupuncture and anti-inflammatory diet, (ii) anti-inflammatory diet alone, and (iii) standard treatment, and followed for 8 weeks. Two sessions/week of acupuncture therapy were considered for the combination therapy group. Mental health (depression, anxiety), biochemical parameters, dietary intake, and anthropometric indices were measured at baseline and the end of the trial. Results Of 90 diabetic patients, 83 subjects completed the intervention. Acupuncture therapy with diet decreased depression and anxiety by 20% (p < 0.05 for both) at the end of the trial. The combination therapy decreased WC (p = 0.04) HbA1C (p = 0.008), and increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) concentrations (p = 0.02) compared to diet alone. Conclusion Our findings showed that acupuncture along with an anti-inflammatory diet can be more effective in improving mental health, HbA1C, and abdominal obesity compared to an anti-inflammatory diet alone in diabetic patients with mild to moderate depression after 8 weeks. However, more clinical trials with larger sample sizes and longer duration are recommended to confirm the efficacy of this adjuvant therapy.