Impact of a Short-Term Mediterranean-Style Diet on Health Indices

NCT07707414 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: MED-MOOD-UK-2026-001
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 22
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Emerging evidence suggests protective properties of a Mediterranean diet (MD) in relation to prevention and management of mood disorders. However, there is paucity of dietary interventions investigating adherence to MD and effects on mood and wellbeing in individuals without a clinical diagnosis. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of adherence to a short-term MD on mood and wellbeing in healthy adults

Conditions

Healthy

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Mood

  Change in mood measured using the Bond-Lader Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). The scale ranges from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating a more positive mood state (better outcome).

  Baseline and 7 days (final day of each condition) espressed in questionnaire scores

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Wellbeing

  Baseline and 7 days (final day of each condition) espressed in questionnaire scores

Other Outcomes (3)

• Body weight

  Baseline and 7 days (final day of each condition) expressed in Kg

• Physical activity

  Baseline and 7 days (final day of each condition) espressed in questionnaire scores

• Dietary intake

  During the 7 days intervention/condition using DietPlan software

Study Arms (2)

A Mediterranean style diet

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

At baseline, participants attended an Educational Group Session (EGS) introducing the principles of the Mediterranean Diet (MD), including recommended foods, foods to limit, cooking methods, and shopping tips. Participants then followed a Mediterranean-style diet for 7 days, replacing typical Western foods with MD alternatives without restricting energy intake. Practical examples and take-home materials with simple food swaps were provided to support adherence.

Other: A mediterranean style diet

Habitual diet

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

Participants were instructed to follow their habitual diet (control) and eating practices for 7 days. without restricting energy intake.

Other: Habitual Diet

Interventions

A mediterranean style diet OTHER

At baseline, an Educational Group Session (EGS) introduced participants to the Mediterranean Diet (MD) principles to support adherence. The interactive EGS covered MD typical foods to consume and avoid, cooking methods, and practical shopping guidance. Following the EGS, participants adopted a Mediterranean-style diet for a period of 7 days. Participants were encouraged to follow the MD guidelines (replacing typical western foods with MD foods) without restricting energy intake; examples were provided during the EGS and with take-home resource materials which detailed 'simple swaps' or alternative MD food items to replace western food items.

Also known as: MD

A Mediterranean style diet

Habitual Diet OTHER

participants were instructed to follow their habitual diet (control) and eating practices for 7 days. without restricting energy intake.

Habitual diet

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 35 Years - 64 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Habitual diet of low Mediterranean Diet (MD)adherence i.e. individuals with MD scoring ≤7 (low adherence) were included.
• Living in UK

You may not qualify if:

• pregnant or breastfeeding following a weight loss diet
• diagnosed medical condition (diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, food allergies)
• have any further health conditions which may cause you to react adversely whilst changing your diet.
• diagnosed with a neurological impairment or psychiatric disorder
• Current smoker (last 12 months)
• history of substance abuse
• taking dietary supplements
• already following a Mediterranean style diet

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Roehampton: lead

Study Sites (1)

University of Roehampton, School of Life and Health Sciences

London, UK, SW15 4JD, United Kingdom

Location

Study Officials

• Fotini Tsofliou

  University of Roehampton

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, INVESTIGATOR
• Masking Details: Open label
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor in Clinical Nutrition

Model Details: a randomised controlled-crossover design was employed, including a washout period to reduce carryover effects. Random allocation determined participants' diet order; counterbalanced to follow the MedDiet (MD) or their habitual diet (Control) for 7 days (week 1). This was followed by a washout (week 2), before participants completed the alternate condition (week 3). This is an investigator-initiated, randomised,controlled pilot study.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 19, 2026
• First Posted: July 16, 2026
• Study Start: March 1, 2019
• Primary Completion: May 12, 2019
• Study Completion: August 20, 2019
• Last Updated: July 16, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-07

Locations

GB (1)