A Mediterranean diet supplemented with dairy foods improves mood and processing speed

In November 2018 researchers from Australia published the results of their study to assess the cognitive and psychological effects of a Mediterranean diet with adequate calcium for an ageing population. A total of 41 individuals, aged 45 years and above with systolic blood pressure of over 120 mm Hg and at least two other risk factors for cardiovascular disease, were involved in the study. Each individual consumed a Mediterranean diet with 3-4 servings daily of dairy food as well as a low-fat control diet. Each diet lasted for a period of 8 weeks, and there was an 8-week washout period separating the two diets. Attention, processing speed, memory and planning were assessed both at the start and end of each diet. Mood and health-related quality of life were evaluated and dementia risk assessed. Results showed that the Mediterranean diet with added dairy foods significantly improved processing speed, mood, tension, depression, anger and confusion. No significant effects were found for attention, memory and planning, or risk of dementia.

Wade AT et al. A Mediterranean diet supplemented with dairy foods improves mood and processing speed in an Australian sample: results from the MedDairy randomized controlled trial. Nutr Neurosci. 2018 Nov 8:1-13 [Epub ahead of print]

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