LAUSR

Patients with chronic illnesses represent a segment of adults among whom intake of dietary supplements is particularly prevalent. Previous studies have shown that intake of different dietary supplements to improve perceived quality of life of patients with or without objective improvement in other physiological parameters. We recently conducted an open-label trial of blackcurrant anthocyanin supplementation in patients with PD. Participants were administered the PDQ-39 (a 39-item quality-of-life instrument) before and after blackcurrant supplementation. Patients scored significantly lower in the emotional well-being domain (i.e., reported better emotional quality of life) after blackcurrant anthocyanin supplementation (t9 = -3.97, p = 0.008). It is plausible that the attention our participants received during the study period could have positively affected their mood. It is also possible that a placebo effect of the fruit-derived supplement-often viewed as a healthy alternative to medicines-was in play. Our findings reiterate the high prevalence of supplement intake among PD patients, and the importance of being attentive when caring for patients whether they take supplements or not.