Lysine fortification reduces anxiety and lessens stress in family members in economically weak communities in Northwest Syria.

Miro Smriga, Shibani Ghosh, Youssef Mouneimne, Peter L Pellett, Nevin S Scrimshaw

Journal: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2004;101(22):8285-8

PMID: 15159538

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Plain Language Summary

The risk of protein deficiency, particularly lysine, is high among communities that depend on wheat for their protein supply. In experimental animals, prolonged lysine inadequacy increases stress-induced anxiety, however the evidence of nutritional benefits for fortifying wheat with lysine is limited. The aim of this study was to investigate whether consuming lysine-fortified wheat for three months would reduce stress and anxiety in Northwest Syrian rural communities. This study indicated that lysine fortification significantly reduced anxiety in males. These results suggest that some stress responses among economically weak populations consuming wheat-based diets can be improved with lysine fortification.

Abstract

Lysine is a limiting amino acid in diets based on wheat as the staple. In experimental animals, prolonged dietary lysine inadequacy increases stress-induced anxiety. If observed in humans, such a result would have a strong implication for the relationship between nutrition and communal quality of life and mental health. As part of a 3-month randomized double-blind study, we tested whether lysine fortification of wheat reduces anxiety and stress response in family members in poor Syrian communities consuming wheat as a staple food. In the lysine-fortified group, the plasma cortisol response to the blood drawing as a cause of stress was reduced in females, as was sympathetic arousal in males as measured by skin conductance. Lysine fortification also significantly reduced chronic anxiety as measured by the trait anxiety inventory in males. These results suggest that some stress responses in economically weak populations consuming cereal-based diets can be improved with lysine fortification.

Address: Institute of Life Sciences, Ajinomoto Co., Inc., 210-8681 Kawasaki, Japan.

DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0402550101

Physical Environment

Psychosocial influences

Clinical Imbalances

Hormonal Neurological

Laboratory Testing

Blood

Modifiable Lifestyle Factors

Diet Stress, Relaxation, Resilience Psychological

Nutrition Evidence Keywords

Fortification Cerealbaseddiet Proteindeficiency

Bioactive Substances

Serotonin Lysine

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MeSH Terms: Adolescent, Adult, Animals, Anxiety, Bread, Child, Diet, Double-Blind Method, Economics, Female, Food, Fortified, Humans, Hydrocortisone, Lysine, Male, Quality of Life, Residence Characteristics, Stress, Psychological, Surveys and Questionnaires, Syria, Triticum