NCT05927376

Mediterranean-style Dietary Pattern (MDP), Mood and Anxiety

MediMood: A Randomised Controlled Trial Investigating the Acute Impact of a Plant Based Mediterranean-style Dietary Pattern (MDP) on Mood, Anxiety and Cognition in UK Adults With Mild to Moderate Mental Health Complaints

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 25 (actual)
• Sponsor: University of East Anglia · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

Observational studies and a limited numbers of RCTs have observed that habitual Mediterranean-style dietary pattern (MDP) consumption is associated with improved mental health and cognition. Yet, its efficacy in a short-term has not been studied in well-controlled intervention settings. MediMood is a cross-over RCT aiming to test whether a MDP can affect mood and anxiety following a meal (postprandial) and over 5-days in adults over 18 years with mild to moderate mental health problems relative to a Western diet (WD).

Detailed description

Depression, anxiety and age-related cognitive decline are leading global public health problems. A plant-based Mediterranean-style dietary pattern (MDP) includes olive oil as the main source of fat, fresh fruits, vegetables, seafood, legumes and nuts and a low consumption of red and processed meat, confectionary, and high-sugar drinks. A MDP promotes both physical and mental wellbeing and brain function. However, most studies to date have examined the impact of a MDP on health over months or years. As several underpinning biological mechanisms are likely to be responsive within hours or days, examining the short-term effect of a MDP on mental health outcomes is important. The overall goal of the present study is to understand the effects of a MDP on acute/sub-chronic brain health and its underpinning mechanisms. MediMood is a randomised cross-over efficacy trial. Participants will be assigned to an isocaloric MDP and a Western diet (WD) for 5-days in a random order with a 4-week wash-out period. All foods, meal plans and detailed dietary instructions will be provided. In addition to the primary outcome measures (mood and anxiety), the impact of intervention on cognitive performance, sleep, cerebral blood flow (MRI) and a selection of biomarkers of brain function will be measured in biological samples over five days. As low mood, anxiety and stress disorders affect daily functioning and reduce the quality of life significantly for many, the investigators believe the findings will have wide public health application.

Conditions

• Depression, Anxiety

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Mediterranean diet	All foods, meal plans and instructions provided.
BEHAVIORAL	Western diet	All foods, meal plans and instructions provided.

Timeline

• Start date: 2023-08-01
• Primary completion: 2023-12-15
• Completion: 2024-06-30
• First posted: 2023-07-03
• Last updated: 2025-04-03

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United Kingdom