scholarly journals A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial of a Polyphenol Botanical Blend on Sleep and Daytime Functioning

Author(s):  
Andrew S. Tubbs ◽  
Kathryn E. R. Kennedy ◽  
Pamela Alfonso-Miller ◽  
Chloe C. A. Wills ◽  
Michael A. Grandner

Despite the high prevalence of subclinical sleep disturbances, existing treatments are either potent prescription medications or over-the-counter supplements with minimal scientific support and numerous side effects. However, preliminary evidence shows that polyphenols such as rosmarinic acid and epigallocatechin gallate can support healthy sleep without significant side effects. Therefore, the present study examined whether a polyphenol botanical blend (PBB) could improve sleep and/or daytime functioning in individuals with subclinical sleep disturbances. A total of 89 individuals completed a double-blind, randomized trial of daily treatment with PBB (n = 43) or placebo (n = 46) 30 min before bed for 30 days. Participants were monitored for changes in sleep (by sleep diary and an activity tracker), mood, and neurocognitive functioning. After 30 days, PBB improved diary sleep quality (p = 0.008) and reduced insomnia severity (p = 0.044) when compared to placebo. No other changes in sleep outcomes were observed. Additionally, PBB did not impair neurocognitive functioning, and some improvement was noted in vigilant attention, working memory, and risk assessment. Among individuals with subclinical sleep disturbances, PBB improved sleep quality, insomnia severity, and neurocognitive functioning over placebo. These findings indicate that polyphenol compounds may be useful for improving certain aspects of sleep without compromising neurocognitive functioning.

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 1885 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oussama Saidi ◽  
Emmanuelle Rochette ◽  
Éric Doré ◽  
Freddy Maso ◽  
Julien Raoux ◽  
...  

Disturbed sleep is common in adolescents. Ingested nutrients help regulate the internal clock and influence sleep quality. The purpose of this clinical trial is to assess the effect of protein tryptophan (Trp)/large neutral amino acids (LNAAs) ratio on sleep and circadian rhythm. Ingested Trp is involved in the regulation of the sleep/wake cycle and improvement of sleep quality. Since Trp transport through the blood–brain barrier is competing with LNAAs, protein with higher Trp/LNAAs were expected to increase sleep efficiency. This randomized double-blind controlled trial will enroll two samples of male adolescents predisposed to sleep disturbances: elite rugby players (n = 24) and youths with obesity (n = 24). They will take part randomly in three sessions each held over a week. They will undergo a washout period, when dietary intake will be calibrated (three days), followed by an intervention period (three days), when their diet will be supplemented with three proteins with different Trp/LNAAs ratios. Physical, cognitive, dietary intake, appetite, and sleepiness evaluations will be made on the last day of each session. The primary outcome is sleep efficiency measured through in-home electroencephalogram recordings. Secondary outcomes include sleep staging, circadian phase, and sleep-, food intake-, metabolism-, and inflammation-related biochemical markers. A fuller understanding of the effect of protein Trp/LNAAs ratio on sleep could help in developing nutritional strategies addressing sleep disturbances.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Udo Bongartz ◽  
Bee-Kwan Tan ◽  
Stephanie Seibt ◽  
Gordana Bothe ◽  
Ralf Uebelhack ◽  
...  

Objective. The purpose of this study was to explore the clinical benefit and tolerability of IQP-AO-101 in healthy subjects with sleep complaints. Methods. This double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial involved fifty subjects with sleep complaints. Subjects with a Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score between 6 and 15 were randomized to receive either IQP-AO-101 or placebo for 6 weeks, following a run-in period of one week. Sleep parameters were assessed at baseline and after 1, 4, and 6 weeks using the modified Athens Insomnia Scale (mAIS). Subjects were also instructed to wear an activity tracker and keep a sleep diary during the study. Other questionnaires administered were the Frankfurt Attention Inventory (FAIR-2) and the Profile of Mood States (POMS-65). Blood samples for safety laboratory parameters were taken before and at the end of the study. Results. After 6 weeks, subjects who consumed IQP-AO-101 reported significant improvements in mAIS scores compared with placebo, including mAIS total score (11.76 ± 6.85 vs 4.00 ± 4.80; p < 0.001); night parameters composite score (5.20 ± 3.80 vs 2.04 ± 3.16; p = 0.001); and day parameters composite score (6.56 ± 4.10 vs 1.96 ± 2.65; p < 0.001). All individual parameters (Items 1 to 8) were also significantly improved from baseline after 6 weeks of IQP-AO-101 intake. Analysis of variance with baseline values as covariates showed statistically significant improvements across all individual parameters for IQP-AO-101 when compared to placebo. The measurements using the activity tracker, sleep diary, FAIR-2, and POMS did not reveal any significant differences between groups. No adverse effects related to the intake of IQP-AO-101 were reported. Tolerability was rated as very good by all the subjects and by the investigator for all cases. Conclusions. In this study, IQP-AO-101 was well tolerated and efficacious for promoting sleep and enhancing daytime performance in subjects with moderate sleep disturbances. Clinical Trial Registration. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, no. NCT03114696.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuan-Yu Chan ◽  
Yi-Hung Chen ◽  
Szu-Nian Yang ◽  
Wan-Yu Lo ◽  
Jaung-Geng Lin

Methadone maintenance therapy is an effective treatment for opiate dependence, but more than three-quarters of persons receiving the treatment report sleep quality disturbances. In this double-blind, randomized, controlled trial, we recruited 90 individuals receiving methadone for at least one month who reported sleep disturbances and had Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores > 5. The purpose of this study was to determine whether Suan Zao Ren Tang, one of the most commonly prescribed traditional Chinese medications for treatment of insomnia, improves subjective sleep among methadone-maintained persons with disturbed sleep quality. Ninety patients were randomly assigned to intervention group (n=45) and placebo group (n=45), and all participants were analyzed. Compared with placebo treatment, Suan Zao Ren Tang treatment for four weeks produced a statistically significant improvement in the mean total PSQI scores (P=0.007) and average sleep efficiency (P=0.017). All adverse events (e.g., lethargy, diarrhea, and dizziness) were mild in severity. Suan Zao Ren Tang is effective for improving sleep quality and sleep efficiency among methadone-maintained patients with sleep complaints.


2001 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. A. Ahmadi-Abhari ◽  
S. Akhondzadeh ◽  
S. M. Assadi ◽  
O. L. Shabestari ◽  
Z. M. Farzanehgan ◽  
...  

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 248
Author(s):  
Michael J. Patan ◽  
David O. Kennedy ◽  
Cathrine Husberg ◽  
Svein Olaf Hustvedt ◽  
Philip C. Calder ◽  
...  

Emerging evidence suggests that adequate intake of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs), which include docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), might be associated with better sleep quality. N-3 PUFAs, which must be acquired from dietary sources, are typically consumed at suboptimal levels in Western diets. Therefore, the current placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized trial, investigated the effects of an oil rich in either DHA or EPA on sleep quality in healthy adults who habitually consumed low amounts of oily fish. Eighty-four participants aged 25–49 years completed the 26-week intervention trial. Compared to placebo, improvements in actigraphy sleep efficiency (p = 0.030) and latency (p = 0.026) were observed following the DHA-rich oil. However, these participants also reported feeling less energetic compared to the placebo (p = 0.041), and less rested (p = 0.017), and there was a trend towards feeling less ready to perform (p = 0.075) than those given EPA-rich oil. A trend towards improved sleep efficiency was identified in the EPA-rich group compared to placebo (p = 0.087), along with a significant decrease in both total time in bed (p = 0.032) and total sleep time (p = 0.019) compared to the DHA-rich oil. No significant effects of either treatment were identified for urinary excretion of the major melatonin metabolite 6-sulfatoxymelatonin. This study was the first to demonstrate some positive effects of dietary supplementation with n-3 PUFAs in healthy adult normal sleepers, and provides novel evidence showing the differential effects of n-3 PUFA supplements rich in either DHA or EPA. Further investigation into the mechanisms underpinning these observations including the effects of n-3 PUFAs on sleep architecture are required.


1988 ◽  
Vol 102 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Kristensen ◽  
K. Tveteraas ◽  
P. Hein ◽  
H. B. Poulsen ◽  
K. E. Outzen

AbstractThe pain-relieving efficacy of naproxen and acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) in tonsillectomized patients was compared in a double blind parallel clinical trial comprising 83 patients, among whom 42 were treated with naproxen and 41 with ASA. The patients were treated post-operatively for two days with either naproxen suppositories 500 mg. twice, or ASA effervescent tablets 1000 mg. three times, daily.The therapeutic gain was evaluated by recording the intensity of pain, reduced ability to open the mouth (trismus), consumption of supplementary analgesic (parcetamol), and pain-related sleep disturbances.The statistical analysis of the results revealed no differences in pain intensity, consumption of additional analgesics or pain-related sleep disturbances in the two treatment groups. A considerable degree of trismus was demonstrated in most of the tonsillectomized patients. This reduced ability to open the mouth was gradually overcome in the naproxen group while it remained unchanged in the ASA group, however, no statistical significant difference could be demonstrated. Additionally, no significant positive correlation between pain intensity and trismus was proven. The pain-relieving effect, however, was unsatisfactory in both the naproxen and the ASA group, and clinical controlled trial studies of alternative analgetics in tonsillectomized patients are still to be encouraged.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter L. Stavinoha ◽  
Ineke M. Olsthoorn ◽  
Maria C. Swartz ◽  
Sara Nowakowski ◽  
Stephanie J. Wells ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Sleep disturbances constitute a common complication in pediatric cancer patients and survivors and are frequently severe enough to warrant treatment. Suboptimal sleep has been associated with decreased emotional well-being and cognitive functioning and increased behavioral problems. Standardized guidelines for non-pharmacological sleep interventions for adults with cancer exist, but no standard of care intervention or standard guidelines are available to guide such intervention in pediatric cancer patients and survivors. Therefore, effective behavioral interventions for improving sleep quality need to be identified. The objective of the review is to evaluate the effect of non-pharmacological sleep interventions on sleep quality in pediatric cancer patients and survivors. Methods The review will consider studies that include children and adolescents between 0 and 18 years diagnosed with cancer or who have a history of cancer who have non-respiratory sleep disturbance. We will include experimental and quasi-experimental studies evaluating non-pharmacological interventions such as psychological interventions, technical/device interventions, interventions targeting physical activity, and complementary and alternative medicine interventions (e.g., yoga, massage, music). Interventions involving medications, ingestible supplements, products purported to work through absorption, and medical devices will be excluded. Primary outcome will be sleep quality as measured by methods including retrospective ratings, daily sleep diary, and validated questionnaires. Secondary outcomes will include total sleep time, sleep onset latency, wake after sleep onset, daytime sleepiness, and daytime sleep duration (naps) as measured by retrospective ratings, daily sleep diary, validated questionnaires, and/or actigraphy. Databases will include MEDLINE (Ovid), EMBASE (Ovid), Cochrane Library, CINAHL (Ebsco), and PsycINFO (Ovid) and will be queried from database inception to present. Two reviewers will independently screen all citations, full-text articles, and extract data. The study methodological quality will be assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tools. Data will be extracted and findings pooled and synthesized using a meta-aggregation approach via the JBI System for the Unified Management, Assessment, and Review of Information (SUMARI). If feasible, we will conduct random effects meta-analysis. Additional analyses will be conducted to explore the potential sources of heterogeneity (e.g., methodological quality, study design, outcome measures). Discussion This systematic review will synthesize and consolidate evidence on existing non-pharmacological interventions to improve sleep in pediatric cancer patients and survivors. Findings may help inform practitioners working with pediatric cancer patients and survivors experiencing sleep disturbances and is intended to identify gaps and opportunities to improve methodical quality of further non-pharmacological sleep intervention research in this population toward developing an eventual standard of care. Systematic review registration PROSPERO CRD42020200397.


SLEEP ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoann Birling ◽  
Xiaoshu Zhu ◽  
Nicole Avard ◽  
Caterina Tannous ◽  
Paul P Fahey ◽  
...  

Abstract Study Objectives The aim of this study was to test the efficacy and safety of Zao Ren An Shen (ZRAS) capsule, a Chinese herbal medicine product, for the treatment of insomnia. Methods We conducted a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial. After a one-week placebo run-in, a total of 85 people with insomnia were randomly allocated to receive ZRAS or placebo for four weeks. The primary outcomes were insomnia severity assessed with the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) and the number of participants with adverse events. Secondary outcomes included objective and subjective sleep parameters, psychological status, fatigue level, quality of life, acceptability, and tolerability. Results A non-significant (p &gt; 0.05) difference of 0.7 points in ISI in favor of ZRAS capsule was found at the end of the treatment. The number of participants with adverse events was not significantly different (p &gt; 0.05) between the two groups. Except for subjective sleep onset latency, which had a non-significant (p &gt; 0.05) medium effect (Cohen’s d = 0.5), the effects in secondary efficacy outcomes were all small (Cohen’s d &lt; 0.4) and non-significant (p &gt; 0.05). The acceptability and tolerability were high in the active group. Conclusions ZRAS capsule is safe, acceptable, and tolerable, yet not more effective than placebo in the treatment of insomnia. As previous evidence showed that Chinese herbal medicine was effective for insomnia, these results may be explained by the dose of the product, which was lower than the dose generally used in the clinic.


1976 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 179-182 ◽  
Author(s):  
D M Lomas ◽  
J Gay ◽  
R N Midha ◽  
D L Postlethwaite

Three hundred and twelve patients suffering from painful conditions were admitted to a multicentre, double-blind controlled trial, conducted in general practice in which five analgesics—floctafenine (Idarac), paracetamol, aspirin, dihydrocodeine and pentazocine—were compared. Overall ratings of analgesic effect placed floctafenine first in rank order. Floctafenine was statistically significantly superior in effect to pentazocine but not to the other three agents as far as doctor ratings were concerned; and superior to both pentazocine and dihydrocodeine in the opinion of patients. Fewer patients experienced side-effects on floctafenine than on the other four analgesics and this difference between floctafenine and pentazocine, and floctafenine and dihydrocodeine was statistically significant.


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