The Effects of Wild Blueberry Flavonoids on Mood and Cognition in Young Adults.

Following the recent interest in the relationship between nutrition and depression, in exploring prevention and treatment strategies for mental health through dietary interventions, this thesis investigates the acute and chronic benefits of wild blueberry flavonoid supplementation on depressive symptoms and cognition in young adults (12-25 year olds). Study 1, a systematic review, revealed that diets containing higher amount of fruits and vegetables have been shown to be inversely associated with symptoms of depression in children, young and older adults. Several micronutrients such as vitamins and minerals present in fruits and vegetables have been investigated regarding their effects on depressive symptoms. However, research on the effects of consumption of flavonoids, that have significant positive effects on cognitive functioning and are abundantly present in fruits and vegetables, on depressive symptoms has been limited and is virtually non-existent in young adults. Given the strong evidence showing the association between cognition and depression, we hypothesised that the beneficial effects of fruit and vegetable rich diets to alleviate symptoms of depression may be via flavonoid related improvement in cognition. However, the direct effects of flavonoids on mood has been unexplored. The collective studies in this thesis attempts to fill this gap in the literature. Study 2 revealed that in 11-17 year olds (N = 77) there was no association between diet quality and depressive symptoms, however the amount of fruits and vegetables consumed was significantly lower than the recommended amounts. Further, more than half the adolescents consumed empty calories above the recommended amount, and none achieved the suggested ratio of carbohydrate to protein to fat in their diet. This in addition to the findings from the systematic review provided a rationale to explore the effects of flavonoids on symptoms of depression and cognitive ability. The acute (2 hours) psychological and cognitive effects of flavonoids were investigated across 2 double-blinded placebo-controlled crossover experiments (Study 3 and 4) in young adults (18-25-year-olds). Study 3 was a crossover study in 21 young adults. No intervention related improvement in cognition or negative affect was observed however, there was a significant improvement in positive affect after the consumption of wild blueberry drinks in Study 3. However, in this study participants’ baseline mood was not accounted for, therefore, the study was repeated (Study 4) in 33 young adults who were screened for depressive symptoms at baseline. No significant influence of flavonoid rich blueberry drink was observed on 12 positive and negative affect or on any of the cognitive measures in healthy young adults or those with elevated symptoms of depression. This comparison requires replication due to the sample size of those with depressive symptoms being small (n=12). Study 5, last in the series of studies is a randomised double-blinded placebo-controlled trial that investigated the effects of 4-week daily wild blueberry (253mg anthocyanins) intervention on transient and chronic mood and cognition in young adults (12-18 year olds). No significant beneficial effect of wild blueberry intervention was observed on transient mood and cognition after 2 and 4 weeks of the intervention. However, participants reported significantly fewer depression symptoms on the Mood and Feeling Questionnaire, after 4 weeks of daily wild blueberry supplementation. The work in this thesis demonstrates that there is low consumption of fruits and vegetables (therefore, low flavonoid intake) in young adults and that, the administration of a flavonoid rich wild blueberry supplementation, can result in an elevated positive affect within 2 hours and decreased depressive symptoms after 4 weeks of daily supplementation. Overall, these studies are the first to show that dietary flavonoids have the potential to affect transient and chronic mood in young adults. However, these studies require replication, especially in young people with elevated symptoms of depression and in participants with a diagnosis of depression. If replicated, blueberry flavonoid supplementation could be a potential prevention or early intervention strategy for young adults at risk of and suffering from depression and have benefits for public mental health

Serum Resistin Levels and Related Genetic Variants Are Associated With Bone Mineral Density in Postmenopausal Women

Background: Osteoporosis is a multifactorial disorder and a number of genetic variants or loci responsible for bone mineral density (BMD) have been identified. Resistin, a novel adipokine has diverse role in human body including its function in bone remodeling. The objective of this study was to see the association of serum resistin levels and related genetic variants (rs3931020, rs13144478) with BMD in postmenopausal females. Methods: This comparative analytical study was conducted on postmenopausal osteoporotic (n=101), osteopenic (n=77) and non-osteoporotic (n=74) females. For comparison and correlational analysis, Kruskal-Wallis test and Spearman’s rho correlation were used respectively. Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) was calculated by using Chi-square test (χ2). Results: There was significant difference in the serum levels of resistin (p &lt;0.001), among the three groups. Significant negative correlation of resistin was observed with BMD at various sites. Serum resistin levels were significantly low in the rs3931020 AA homozygous genotype (p = 0.010), and significantly high in the rs13144478 AT heterozygous genotype (p = 0.020), BMD at all sites except left femoral neck was significantly high in rs3931020 AA genotype, while BMD at lumbar spine, left hip and total BMD were significantly low in the rs13144478 TT homozygotes. Conclusion: High serum resistin levels are associated with low BMD and single nucleotide variation in rs3931020 and rs13144478 may lead to high serum resistin levels and low bone mineral density. Resistin can serve as a new genetic marker, potential therapeutic target and predictor of osteoporosis.</p

Forensic Entomology: A Comprehensive Review

Determination of post mortem interval is done with various methods depending upon the condition of the dead body and the circumstances in which it is found. Ruling out foul play in unnatural deaths has been an enigma of a sort for forensic pathologists and scientists all over the world. The methods to determine the cause and manner of death keep on emerging with ongoing researches in the fields of forensic sciences. Many methods have been devised to determine cause, manner and specifically time since death. Forensic entomology is one such field that aids in determination of time since death, especially in putrefied corpses found in different habitats in mysterious unknown circumstances. The field keeps on emerging with the advent of new techniques on molecular level, including DNA analysis and identification based on entomological data that has diversified over the years. The standards and guidelines for entomological data collection and processing needed for implication on the crime scene must be revised now and again for assistance of crime scene investigators, scientists, entomologists and pathologists. Various factors must be considered while processing entomological data that affect post mortem intervals. The keen study of life cycles, groups of similar insects, valid and standard methods of insect collection, breeding and identification can give a lead on cause, manner, time, place and circumstances of unknown or unnatural deaths.

Is there an association between diet and depression in children and adolescents? A systematic review

This review critically evaluates previous research investigating the association between dietary intake of children and young people and depression and related mental health problems. A systematic literature search was conducted using electronic databases such as PSYCINFO, MEDLINE, PUBMED and COCHRANE. Twenty studies were identified that met the inclusion criteria and were subsequently rated for quality. The studies used a range of methods to measure dietary intake and mental health. Important potential confounding variables (e.g. socio-economic status) were often not included or controlled. There were also inconsistencies in the use of key constructs, which made comparisons between studies difficult. Despite some contradictory results, overall there was support for an association between healthy dietary patterns or consumption of a high quality diet and lower levels of depression or better mental health. Similarly, there was a relationship between unhealthy diet and consumption of low quality diet and depression or poor mental health. However, where significant relationships were reported effect sizes were small. Future research on the relationship between diet and mental health in young people should use more clearly defined constructs to define diet and include or control for important confounds

Effect of 4 weeks daily wild blueberry supplementation on symptoms of depression in adolescents

Adolescence is an important period for cognitive maturation and emotional regulation and this age group is particularly vulnerable to developing depression. Diets rich in fruits and vegetables have been associated with decreased risk of developing depressive disorders across the lifespan, an association that may be due to the high flavonoid content of these foods. Previously we have shown increases in transient positive affect in both children and young adults two hours after administration of a wild blueberry intervention. Here, using a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, we investigated the effects of four weeks, daily wild blueberry supplementation (containing ~253mg anthocyanins) on transient and chronic mood in adolescents. Healthy 12-17-year old (N = 64, 35 females) were recruited and randomly assigned to receive either a wild blueberry or matched placebo supplementation. Depression and anxiety symptoms were assessed before and after the intervention period using the Mood and Feelings Questionnaire and Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale. Transient affect was assessed before, two weeks, and at four weeks using the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule. Following the intervention period there were significantly fewer self-reported depression symptoms in participants who were supplemented with the wild blueberry intervention compared to those who received the matched placebo (p=0.02, 95% CI -6.71 to -5.35). There was no between group effect on anxiety symptoms or on transient affect. Further investigation is required to identify specific mechanisms that link flavonoids consumption and mood. If replicated, the observed effects of wild blueberry supplementation may be a potential prevention strategy for adolescent depression and may have benefits for public mental health

Effects of acute blueberry flavonoids on mood in children and young adults

Epidemiological evidence suggests that consumption of flavonoids (usually via fruits and vegetables) is associated with decreased risk of developing depression. One plausible explanation for this association is the well documented beneficial effects of flavonoids on executive function (EF). Impaired EF is linked to cognitive processes (e.g. rumination) that maintain depression and low mood, therefore, improved EF may reduce depressionogenic cognitive processes and improve mood. Study 1: 21 young adults (18-21 years) consumed a flavonoid-rich blueberry drink and a matched placebo in a counterbalanced cross-over design. Study 2: 50 children (7- 10 years) were randomly assigned to a flavonoid-rich blueberry drink or a matched placebo. In both studies participants and researchers were blind to the experimental condition and mood was assessed using the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule before and 2 hours after consumption of drinks. In both studies the blueberry intervention increased positive affect (significant drink by session interaction), but had no effect on negative affect. This observed effect of flavonoids on positive affect in two independent samples is potentially of practical value in improving public health. If the effect of flavonoids on positive affect is replicated, further investigation will be needed to identify the mechanisms that link flavonoid interventions with improved positive mood

The Comparative Power of Type/Token and Hapax legomena/Type Ratios: A Corpus-based Study of Authorial Differentiation

This paper presents an attempt to verify the comparative power of two statistical features: Type/Token, and Hapax legomena/Token ratios (henceforth TTR and HTR). A corpus of ten novels is compiled. Then sixteen samples (each is 5,000 tokens in length) are taken randomly out of these novels as representative blocks. The researchers observe the way TTR and HTR behave in discriminating four novelists: Joyce, Woolf, Faulkner and Hemingway. When compared to the traditional statistical features (e.g. word length average, Sentence length average, etc.), TTR and HTR are by far more competent in comparing the distinctive quantitative behavior of each novelist. It turns out that TTR and HTR contribute more or less in creating a sort of statistical identity which can be used in giving a vivid comparison and discrimination of the four novelists involved in this paper. Nevertheless, HTR sounds more viable in achieving the discriminating task than TTR.