Antidepressant effects of vegetable Amaranthus

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  • SATO Takeshi
    Center for Health Sciences and Counseling, Kyushu University
  • NOSE Akihiro
    Faculty of Agriculture, Saga University : Emeritus professor

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Other Title
  • 野菜用アマランサスの抗うつ効果について
  • ヤサイヨウ アマランサス ノ コウウツ コウカ ニ ツイテ

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Description

In Japan, amaranth is traditionally taken as a seed, but in some Asian countries and parts of Japan, its leaves and stems are also popular as a summer vegetable. Amaranth contains a variety of nutrients, especially serotonin, which affects brain functions, and tryptophan, the raw material for serotonin. The purpose of this study is to provide freely leaf and stem amaranth to patients attending a psychiatric clinic and to test whether it is particularly effective in treating depression. Location was SAGA Consultation Clinic (every Saturday 10:00-17:00). Study period: 4 years from April 2019 to March 2023. The participants were 67 outpatients. Amaranth cultivated by Emeritus Professor of Saga University, Akihiro Nose was packed in 200 g bag, and two bags (400 g in total) were provided to the patients after fully explaining the dosage to them in one week. The patients were asked to check the Japanese version of Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology - Self report (QIDS-SR), a depression scale developed by John Rush et al. before meals and one week later, by hand delivery, and checked. The results were statistically analyzed. At the same time, a piece of paper was attached to the report, in which the participants could freely describe their impressions of eating amaranth. Using Stat View, the Wilcoxon Sign-Rank test was used to compare before and after changes. The significance level was set at 5%. Total score was significantly reduced (p<.0001) and depressive symptoms were generally improved. The effect on general interest was particularly significant (p=0.007). No significant improvement in dysphoric mood and appetite were observed. In addition to the crunchiness and palatability of the vegetables themselves, the impressions showed that the vegetables were also effective in improving constipation and insomnia. Leaf and stem amaranth proved to be a vegetable that has a significant effect on physical and mental improvement and can be consumed by the general public to maintain and improve the health of the Japanese people.

Journal

  • 健康科学

    健康科学 45 17-22, 2023-03-27

    九州大学健康科学編集委員会

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