Source-news-medical.net
A recent study published in Nutrients explores the effects of combining caloric restriction (CR) with clinical psychological intervention (CPI) on gut microbiome composition and mental health in women. The research aims to address the growing concern over mental and metabolic disorders such as obesity, depression, and diabetes, which are often intertwined due to shared biological and lifestyle factors. Despite available pharmacological treatments, adherence remains challenging due to side effects like weight gain, which can hinder patient compliance and exacerbate health issues. As a result, lifestyle interventions involving diet and stress management are gaining traction as potential solutions.
Gut Microbiome Composition and Mental Health in Women
Study Design and Methodology
The study involved 41 women who underwent a two-week inpatient lifestyle intervention at the La Pura Women’s Health Resort. Participants were randomly assigned to either a very low-calorie diet (VLCD) or the F.X. Mayr diet (FXM), with each diet providing specific caloric intake and dietary practices. VLCD participants consumed 630-700 kcal/day, while FXM participants had 700-800 kcal/day with additional practices such as prolonged chewing and oral magnesium sulfate supplementation. Both groups were further divided to receive either CPI, which included muscle relaxation, psycho-education, mindfulness training, and biofeedback, or a single stress prevention lecture.
The study excluded pregnant women and those with severe chronic illnesses. All participants had access to the resort’s leisure and wellness facilities, and clinical variables such as age, body mass index (BMI), and various biomarkers were measured. Psychometric assessments were conducted using the Brief Symptom Index (BSI), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and burnout dimension inventor (BODI). Additionally, fasting blood and stool samples were collected for microbial analysis through 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing.
Findings and Implications
The analysis revealed significant changes in gut microbiome composition and mental health outcomes. Dominant bacterial genera included Bacteroides and Alistipes, while genera such as Faecalibacterium and Escherichia-Shigella decreased in relative abundance. Notably, FXM diet participants showed more pronounced changes in microbiome β-diversity compared to VLCD participants. Principal component analysis (PCA) indicated a clear separation between baseline and follow-up samples, with FXM samples clustering along the negative end of the first principal component (PC1). This shift was associated with changes in various bacterial taxa and psychometric scores.
The study also found that the FXM diet was linked to greater changes in gut microbiota and mental health outcomes compared to VLCD. Specifically, bacteria such as Dialister and Bifidobacterium significantly decreased, while Oscillospiraceae and Oscillibacter increased. The sparse partial least squares (sPLS2) and sparse partial least squares discriminant analysis (sPLS-DA) models further supported these findings, highlighting the effectiveness of FXM in altering gut microbiome composition and its association with improved mental health outcomes.
Overall, this study underscores the potential of integrating dietary and psychological interventions to enhance gut health and mental well-being in women, offering a promising approach to addressing complex mental and metabolic disorders.
