Depressed Mood and Anhedonia in Healthy Adults

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of nutraceutical supplement on depressed mood and anhedonia in volunteers after 8 weeks of consumption.


Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Adults aged between 20 and 65 years (limits included);
* Body Mass Index (BMI) ≥19 and \< 30 kg/m²;
* Considered healthy based on their medical history and clinical examination;
* Subjects self-reporting anhedonia based on SHAPS questionnaire. Score ≥ 3 allows the inclusion;
* Subjects with depressive mood disturbance based on POMS depression subscale. Score ≥ 4 allows the inclusion;
* Able and willing to participate to the study by complying with the protocol procedures as evidenced by his dated and signed informed consent form;
* Affiliated with a social security scheme;
* Agreeing to be registered on the national file of the volunteers in biomedical research.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Suffer from mental health other than mild depressive or anxiety symptoms as measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Volunteers with PHQ-9 score \>14 could not be included;
* Having suicidal thoughts: score ≥1 at the item 9 of the PHQ-9;
* Diagnosis of medical or psychiatric conditions including (but not limited to):

  * psychiatric disorder (other than mild-to-moderate depression symptoms, anhedonia or anxiety),
  * neurological disease (Parkinson's, Alzheimer's disease, intracranial haemorrhage, head or brain injury),
  * cancer/malignancy,
  * cardiovascular disease (other than hypertension),
  * Immunological disease,
  * endocrine disease (including diabetes or thyroid diseases, Chronic kidney disease, hematological abnormalities);
* Smokers (more than 5 cigarettes per day);
* Uncontrolled hypertension with medication (SBP ≥ 160mmHg or DBP ≥ 100 mmHg) or without medication (SBP ≥ 140mmHg or DBP ≥ 90 mmHg);
* Taking drugs (anxiolytics, antidepressants, antihistamine drug more than 7 day/month) known to have an impact on mental health in the month preceding inclusion and / or likely to consume them during the study and/or Illicit drug;
* Undergoing a psychotherapy in the month preceding inclusion or during the study;
* Consuming more than 3 standard drinks of alcoholic beverage daily;
* Weight change above 10% body weight within the past 6 months before inclusion;
* Currently under prescribed diet regimen, whatever the reason;
* Consuming foods supplement known to have an influence on mental health in the month preceding the inclusion and / or likely to take during the study;
* Consuming more than 50g of chocolate/day;
* For females: Pregnant or planning pregnancy during the study or breastfeeding;
* Any intolerance or allergy documented or suspected to one of the components of the study products;
* Taking part in another clinical trial or being in the exclusion period of a previous clinical trial;
* Subject who would receive more than 4500 euros as indemnities for his participation in biomedical research within the 12 last months, including the indemnities for the present study;
* Under legal protection (guardianship, wardship) or deprived from his rights following administrative or judicial decision;
* Presenting a psychological or linguistic incapability to sign the informed consent and to answer the study questionnaires
* Any other condition which in the investigator's opinion may adversely affect the subject's ability to complete the study or its measures or which may pose significant risk to the subject.