Effectiveness of Enriched Milk with Ashwagandha Extract and Tryptophan for Improving Subjective Sleep Quality in Adults with Sleep Problems: A Randomized Double-Blind Controlled Trial.

A randomized, double-blind and controlled study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of the intake of 250 mL of lactose-free skimmed milk enriched with ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) alone or combined with tryptophan vs. non-enriched milk (control) on the subjective quality of sleep in healthy adults with sleep problems. The duration of supplementation was 90 days. Fifty-two eligible subjects were assigned to the study arms of ashwagandha 250 mg, ashwagandha 250 mg plus tryptophan 175 mg, ashwagandha 600 mg, and control with 13 subjects in each group. It was hypothesized that ashwagandha plus tryptophan could be superior to ashwagandha alone for improving sleep-related variables. Changes in the visual analogue scale (VAS) for sleep quality were significantly higher in the three experimental groups as compared with controls (p = 0.014). Improvements in the subscales of the Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were found in all groups, but between-group differences were not significant. In the index of insomnia severity, decreases were higher in the three experimental groups as compared with controls especially in the group of ashwagandha 600 mg. Daytime somnolence was also reduced in the three experimental groups. Changes in anxiety levels and Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire were not observed. The study products did not elicit changes in body composition and were well tolerated and safe. The data did not support the hypothesis, as the combination of ashwagandha and tryptophan did not show greater benefits in improving sleep quality than ashwagandha alone. However, the results from the three experimental groups containing ashwagandha were more favorable compared to the placebo group.

Dietary Supplementation with an Extract of Aloysia citrodora (Lemon verbena) Improves Sleep Quality in Healthy Subjects: A Randomized Double-Blind Controlled Study.

Seventy-one healthy subjects with sleep disturbances participated in a randomized, double-blind controlled trial in which dietary supplementation with an extract of Aloysia citrodora (lemon verbena) (n = 33) or placebo (n = 38) was administered for 90 days. There were between-group differences in favor of the experimental group in the visual analogue scale (VAS) for sleep quality (6.5 ± 1.6 vs. 5.5 ± 2.1, p = 0.021) as well as in the overall score (5.8 ± 2.4, p = 0.008) and scores for sleep latency (1.6 ± 1.0 vs. 1.9 ± 0.7, p = 0.027) and sleep efficiency (84.5 ± 12.8 vs. 79.8 ± 13.6, p = 0.023) in the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Sleep-related variables (latency, efficiency, wakefulness after sleep onset, awakenings) assessed by actigraphy also showed better scores in the experimental group (p = 0.001). Plasma nocturnal melatonin levels also increased significantly in the experimental group (199.7 ± 135.3 vs. 174.7 ± 115.4 pg/mL, p = 0.048). Changes in anthropometric parameters and physical activity levels were not found. In summary, a dietary supplement of lemon verbena administered for 3 months was associated with a significant improvement in sleep quality as compared with placebo in a population of healthy subjects with sleep problems.

Mejora de la eficacia del tratamiento del a disfagia en personas con parálisis cerebral. Trabajo multidisciplinar / Improving the effectiveness of dysphagia treatment in people with cerebral palsy. Multidisciplinary work

Introducción: La Parálisis Cerebral es un trastorno global de la persona consistente en un desorden permanente y no inmutable del tono muscular, la postura y el movimiento, debido a una lesión no progresiva en el cerebro antes de que su desarrollo y crecimiento sean completos. Así pues, se describen dos grupos de complicaciones de gran trascendencia clínica relacionadas con la disfagia: disminución de la eficacia y de la seguridad de la deglución. Material y Métodos: Valorar la eficacia de la aplicación de técnicas y métodos empleados durante el proceso de nutrición a modo de mejorar la disfagia en pacientes con Parálisis Cerebral. Diseño: Ensayo clínico (Estudio de intervención o proyecto). El grupo seleccionado realizó un programa de evaluación, intervención y reevaluación post-intervención logopédico cuyas características tenían que cumplir con los siguientes parámetros: - Tener disfagia orofaríngea derivada de una causa neurológica, - Presentar un nivel cognitivo severo, cuyas limitaciones circunscriban en el impedimento de alimentarse de manera autónoma y durante el proceso de evaluación inicial y final es necesario que los sujetos reciban el alimento por el mismo monitor. El método diseñado para la evaluación de las actitudes alimentarias fue EAT-10 (Eating Assesment Tool), y el MECV-V (Método clínico de Exploración Viscosidad-Volumen), el cual se utilizó como método indicativo de los signos más frecuentes e importantes de la disfagia. Marco: Comedor de la Asociación Malagueña de Atención a la Parálisis Cerebral (AMMAPACE), Málaga. Participantes: 25 pacientes y 17 monitores procedentes de la asociación descrita. Resultados: El proceso de selección, evaluación e intervención ha sido establecido a lo largo de cinco meses de duración durante el periodo en el que los pacientes lleven a cabo la práctica alimenticia habitual. Anteriormente descrito, en total se estudiaron previamente a 25 pacientes, con una media de edad entre 30-60 años...(AU)