MedPath

The Impact of Dietary Habits and Nutrition Intervention on Metabolic Syndrome in Individuals With Schizophrenia

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Metabolic Syndrome
Interventions
Other: Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension
Other: Nutrition education program
Registration Number
NCT04025073
Lead Sponsor
Tamara Sorić
Brief Summary

Metabolic syndrome is a term used to describe a complex clinical condition that includes abdominal obesity, increased level of serum triglycerides, elevated blood pressure, decreased level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and high fasting glucose level. Metabolic syndrome represents one of the major risk factors for the development of cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes mellitus. According to the results of numerous previously conducted studies, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome among the individuals with schizophrenia is higher than in the general population.

The reasons for the higher prevalence of metabolic syndrome among the individuals with schizophrenia are not yet fully clarified. Nevertheless, unhealthy dietary habits are considered to be one of the main factors that could have an impact on metabolic syndrome development. According to the results of published studies, individuals with schizophrenia have poorer dietary habits when compared to people without mental disorders.

Although there are numerous previously published studies focused on the impact of nutritional interventions on metabolic syndrome in individuals with schizophrenia, there is still no consensus on what would be the most appropriate nutrition therapy for the treatment of metabolic syndrome in this specific population group. Furthermore, the vast majority of the published studies have been conducted on outpatients, with only a small number of them being carried out on hospitalized individuals with a diagnosis of schizophrenia.

Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet is primarily intended to those individuals with elevated blood pressure, but according to some authors, it could have beneficial effects in the treatment of the metabolic syndrome as well. DASH diet represents a healthy way of eating with a special emphasis on low-fat dairy products, fruits, vegetables and whole grains, together with an overall reduction in sodium intake.

Therefore, the present study aims to determine the impact of dietary habits and nutrition intervention on metabolic syndrome parameters in hospitalized individuals with the diagnosis of schizophrenia.

The investigators hypothesize that the intervention will result in the improvement in metabolic syndrome parameters, the amelioration in dietary habits, and the reduction in body weight.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
79
Inclusion Criteria
  • the diagnosis of schizophrenia according to the 10th Revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10)
  • age 18-67
  • the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome according to the Joint Interim Statement definition
  • taking antipsychotic medication for the last 6 months or more
  • a stable phase of schizophrenia
  • provided written informed consent (for participants deprived of legal capacity, provided written informed consent of both the participants and their legal guardians)
Exclusion Criteria
  • older than 67
  • without the diagnosis of schizophrenia and/or metabolic syndrome
  • following one of the specific hospital diets with the restrictions related to the intake of specific food items, groups or nutrients
  • taking medications for the reduction of body weight
  • significant body weight loss in the past 3 months
  • refusing to provide written informed consent
  • on personal request
  • deterioration in participant's mental state
  • the occurrence of a new illness that could unable full participation in the study or could have an interfering effect
  • a significant change in pharmacological therapy during the intervention period
  • cognitive impairments that unable full participation in the study
  • lack of interest or refusal to fully participate in the study
  • hospital discharge during the intervention period

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Intervention GroupDietary Approaches to Stop HypertensionThe intervention group will be assigned to the DASH diet with moderately reduced caloric intake and will participate in a nutrition education program.
Intervention GroupNutrition education programThe intervention group will be assigned to the DASH diet with moderately reduced caloric intake and will participate in a nutrition education program.
Control GroupNutrition education programThe control group will continue to follow the standard hospital diet and will participate in the same nutrition education program as the intervention group.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in waist circumferenceBaseline and after three months

Waist circumference measuring (in cm) will be performed prior to and immediately after the intervention using a non-strechable measuring tape.

Change in blood pressureBaseline and after three months

The assessment of blood pressure (in mmHg) will be performed prior to and immediately after the intervention using an aneroid blood pressure gauge.

Change in high-density lipoprotein cholesterolBaseline and after three months

The blood serum concentration of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (in mmol/L) will be determined prior to and immediately after the intervention. Blood samples will be collected after the overnight fast and the analysis will be performed on the Cobas c 111 analyzer.

Change in serum triglyceridesBaseline and after three months

The concentration of serum triglycerides (in mmol/L) will be determined prior to and immediately after the intervention. Blood samples will be collected after the overnight fast and the analysis will be performed on the Cobas c 111 analyzer.

Change in fasting blood glucoseBaseline and after three months

The blood serum concentration of glucose (in mmol/L) will be determined prior to and immediately after the intervention. Blood samples will be collected after the overnight fast and the analysis will be performed on the Cobas c 111 analyzer.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in individual food purchase habitsBaseline and after three months

Individual food purchase diaries, collected at the beginning and at the end of the intervention period, will be used for the evaluation of the changes in individual food purchase habits.

Dietary intake during the intervention3 months

Dietary intake during the intervention will be assessed using three non-consecutive 24-hour dietary recalls (two weekdays and one weekend day).

Change in participants' mental conditionBaseline and after three months

The global severity of the psychotic illness and severity of specific syndromes within psychotic illness will be evaluated prior to and immediately after the intervention using Signs and Symptoms of Psychotic Illness (SSPI) scale. The scale consists of 20 items (signs and symptoms of psychotic illness). For each item (subscale) a score in the range 0 - 4 is assigned: 0 - no psychopatology; 1 - a deviation questionably pathological; 2 - mild pathological deviation; 3 - pathology of moderate severity; 4 - severe psychopathology. Subscales are summed to determine a global severity of psychotic illness. The highest total score is 80.

Change in body weightBaseline and after three months

Body weight (in kg) will be measured prior to and immediately after the intervention using a digital medical scale witl stadiometer.

Change in body mass indexBaseline and after three months

The measured values of body height and weight will be used for the calculation of body mass index (in kg/m\^2).

Change in dietary habitsBaseline and after three months

Dietary habits will be assessed using the nutrition section of Dlugosch \& Krieger's General Health Behavior Questionnaire both prior to and immediately after the intervention.

Change in waist-to-hip ratioBaseline and after three months

The waist-to-hip ratio will be calculated from the measured values of waist and hip circumferences: waist circumference (cm) / hip circumference (cm).

Change in body fat percentageBaseline and after three months

Determination of body fat percentage will be performed using OMRON BF500 analyzer.

Change in total cholesterolBaseline and after three months

The concentration of total cholesterol (in mmol/L) will be determined prior to and immediately after the intervention. Blood samples will be collected after the overnight fast and the analysis will be performed on the Cobas c 111 analyzer.

Change in low-density lipoprotein cholesterolBaseline and after three months

The concentration of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (in mmol/L) will be determined prior to and immediately after the intervention. Blood samples will be collected after the overnight fast and the analysis will be performed on the Cobas c 111 analyzer.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Psychiatric Hospital Ugljan

🇭🇷

Ugljan, Croatia

© Copyright 2025. All Rights Reserved by MedPath