Potential effects of Asian-adapted Mediterranean diet in depression and anxiety among women with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease: a secondary analysis.

BACKGROUND

Common Mental Disorders (CMDs) such as anxiety and depression have been associated with metabolic dysfunction-Associated steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD). The Mediterranean Diet (MD) has been shown to improve metabolic health and reduce CMDs. We previously reported that a calorie-restricted MD adapted to the Asian food culture has beneficial effects on body composition, liver fat, and cardiometabolic markers in Chinese Singaporean women with MASLD.

OBJECTIVE

This secondary analysis examines the effects of an Asian-adapted MD on the symptoms of anxiety and depression in the same population.

METHODS

In a double-blind, parallel-design, randomized controlled trial, 84 Chinese- Singaporean females with MASLD were randomly assigned to 1 of the 3 groups for 12 weeks: adapted Asian MD with C15:0 supplementation ( = 29), diet without C15:0 supplementation ( = 26), or control (habitual diet and no C15:0 supplementation,  = 29). Depression and anxiety symptoms were assessed using the Beck Inventory Questionnaire (BDI-II) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI).

RESULTS

Paired showed a statistically significant reduction in anxiety and depression symptoms within the groups. Particularly, the Diet+C15 group showed a significant decrease in anxiety scores ( = 38.62, SE = 1.84 to  = 34.10, SE = 1.73), (28) = 3.73,  < 0.001, with a medium-to-large effect size ( = 0.69) Jacobson and Truax's reliable change criteria showed clinically reliable improvements in anxiety and depression postintervention.

CONCLUSION

The Asian-adapted MD shows potential benefits for reducing anxiety and depression symptoms, particularly anxiety in women with MASLD. However, given the complexity of CMD, findings should be interpreted cautiously. Future research with larger sample sizes is needed to confirm these effects and explore underlying mechanisms.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

http://clinicaltrials.gov, NCT05259475.