Effects of a 6-days-a-week low protein diet regimen on depressive symptoms in young-old type 2 diabetic patients

Objectives: Late-life depression is one of the main health problems among elderly diabetic subjects. In addition, depression is a common psychopathological condition among renal failure patients and most of these patients follow a low protein diet regimen (LPD). However, the effects of LPD on depressive symptoms are unclear. Design: In the present study, the effects of LPD regimen on depressive symptoms in elderly type 2 diabetic subjects with renal failure were investigated. Participants: Fifty-two young-old type 2 diabetic patients with renal failure were enrolled in the study. All participants after normal protein diet regimen providing 1.2 g/kg per d were instructed to consume either a LPD providing 0.8 g/kg per d, 7 d a wk (LPD 7/7), or a LPD providing 0.8 g/kg per d 6 d a wk (LPD 6/7) randomly. Results: Mean 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) (2.0 +/- 0.6) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) (4.1 +/- 1.0), during normal protein diet regimen, significantly increased to (6.7 +/- 1.6) and (12.2 +/- 1.4), respectively, after LPD 7/7 (P < 0.05 versus normal protein diet). However, after LPD 6/7, mean GDS-15 and BDI significantly decreased to (4.4 +/- 1.5) and (6.7 +/- 1.6), respectively (P < 0.05 versus LPD 7/7). Conclusion: LPD 6/7 regimen significantly decreased depressive symptoms in young-old type 2 diabetic patients. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.