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The effect of date seed powder supplementation on anxiety- and depression-like behaviours, sleep quality and tryptophan–kynurenine metabolism in patients with type 2 diabetes: targeting gut–brain axis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 October 2025

Zahra Momeniyan ,
Parvin Dehghan Open the ORCID record for Parvin Dehghan [Opens in a new window] ,
Helda Tutunchi Open the ORCID record for Helda Tutunchi [Opens in a new window] ,
Hanieh Azadi  and
Fatemeh Azizi-Soleiman
Zahra Momeniyan
Affiliation:
Student Research Committee, Faculty of Nutrition and Food Science, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
Parvin Dehghan*
Affiliation:
Nutrition Research Center, Department of Biochemistry and Diet Therapy, Faculty of Nutrition and Food Science, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
Helda Tutunchi
Affiliation:
Endocrine Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, University of Western Ontario, London, ON N6A 5B9, Canada
Hanieh Azadi
Affiliation:
Student Research Committee, Faculty of Nutrition and Food Science, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
Fatemeh Azizi-Soleiman*
Affiliation:
Department of Nutrition, School of Health, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran
*
Corresponding authors: Parvin Dehghan; Emails: dehghanp@tbzmed.ac.ir, dehghan.nut@gmail.com, Fatemeh Azizi-Soleiman; Email: azizi.s@arakmu.ac.ir
Corresponding authors: Parvin Dehghan; Emails: dehghanp@tbzmed.ac.ir, dehghan.nut@gmail.com, Fatemeh Azizi-Soleiman; Email: azizi.s@arakmu.ac.ir
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Abstract

Recently, functional foods have been considered as an effective approach in management of type 2 diabetes mellitus. This trial aimed to evaluate the potential benefits of date seed powder (DSP) on inflammation anxiety- and depression-like behaviours, sleep quality and tryptophan (TRP)–kynurenine (KYN) metabolism in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. In this trial, forty-three patients with type 2 diabetes were randomised to two groups: either 5 g/d of the DSP or placebo for 8 weeks. Depression, anxiety and stress scale, sleep quality, quality of life (QoL), levels of fasting blood glucose, endotoxin, anti-inflammatory/pro-inflammatory biomarkers, hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis-associated biomarkers (including brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)), KYN, TRP, cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) were assessed at baseline and after 8 weeks. An independent t test was used for baseline comparisons, while ANCOVA was used for post-intervention between-group comparisons. The results showed that supplementation with DSP significantly improved depression, anxiety and stress scale, sleep quality and QoL in comparison with placebo. In terms of biochemical parameters, the intervention group exhibited significantly reduced levels of endotoxin, and cortisol, KYN, KYN:TRP ratio as well as significantly elevated levels of IL-10, TRP concentrations and IL-10:IL-18 ratio compared to the placebo group. Changes in fasting sugar, C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), IL-18, ACTH, BDNF concentrations and cortisol:ACTH ratio were not different between groups. Supplementing with date seed may effectively improve anxiety- and depression-like behaviours, sleep quality and QoL by modulating metabolic endotoxemia, inflammation and HPA axis activity in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Keywords

Date seedFunctional foodTryptophan–kynurenineGut–brain axisPrebioticsType 2 diabetes

Information

Type
Research Article
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 134 , Issue 10 , 28 November 2025 , pp. 816 - 828
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of The Nutrition Society

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