Overview
The goal of this randomized placebo controlled trial is to examine mood disturbance and serum brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in people (age 18-50) with DASS-21 subscale scores >9. The main questions it aims to answer are:
Does curcumin and EGCG supplementation improve mood disturbance symptomology? Does curcumin and EGCG supplementation increase serum BDNF? Researchers will compare intervention versus placebo.
Participants will consume an 8-week supplement of both:
- 1,330mg/day curcumin
- 350mg/day epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)
Description
Clinical assessments will include phlebotomy (completed at weeks 0 and 8) and questionnaires which will be completed at weeks 0, 4, and 8 to assess changes in mood disorder symptomology and serum BDNF. 3 days of 24-hour diet recalls will be collected at weeks 0, 4 and 8. Daily reminders via Emitrr will be sent daily to ensure adherence to supplementation.
This is an 8-week randomized placebo controlled trial looking at mood disturbance and serum BDNF in moderately depressed adults aged 18-50. Participants will be randomized into the intervention group or placebo with the intervention group consuming 1,330mg/day curcumin and 350mg/day EGCG. Baseline mood disturbance questionnaires (DASS-21, GAD-7, GSAQ, IPAQ) and serum BDNF will be taken prior to intervention and again after intervention.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- Adults age 18-50
- Depression subscale score of >9/21 on the DASS-21
- No change in medications or supplements over the past 3 months
- Can read and speak English
Exclusion Criteria:
- Currently consume curcumin or green tea daily
- Currently, pregnant, nursing, or trying to become pregnant
- Currently diagnosed with a perimenopausal disorder