Mental Health and Health-related Quality of Life Response to Curcumin-Probiotic Drink Powder Co-supplementation in Adults with Overweight/Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome: a Four-arm Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled, Clinical Trial

Abstract Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with deteriorated mental health and health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Curcumin and probiotics improved MetS, mental health, and HRQOL. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of curcumin-probiotic (CurPro) co-supplementation in the form of drink powder on mental health and HRQOL in adults with overweight/obesity and MetS. A four-arm, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial with factorial design was conducted for adults with overweight/obesity and MetS (n=128). Participants were randomly allocated into four groups to receive one drink powder sachet containing 1 gr curcumin, 10 9 CFU probiotic ( Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus rhamnosus strains), curcumin-probiotic (CurPro, 1 gr curcumin, and 10 9 CFU probiotic), or placebo along with a low-calorie diet. Participants were assessed for dietary intake, physical activity, mental health, and HRQOL before and after the study. After 8 weeks of intervention, 104 participants finished the study. The CurPro intervention reduced stress (P=0.001) and anxiety (P=0.019) and improved general health (P=0.024) and overall HRQOL (P=0.011) scores of participants in comparison with the Placebo group. Results were not significant for depression, and HRQOL subdomains such as physical functioning, role limitations due to physical problems, bodily pain, vitality, social functioning, and role limitations due to emotional problems. Curcumin-probiotics co-supplementation could improve the mental health and HRQOL of adults with overweight/obesity and MetS. Further investigations in various populations or with different dosages or durations are recommended.