Reducing occupational stress with a B-vitamin focussed intervention: a randomized clinical trial: study protocol

Nutrition Journal

Research

Con Stough¹  Tamara Simpson¹  Justine Lomas¹  Clare Billings¹  Grace McPhee¹  Luke A Downey²  Stephen Myers³  Chris Oliver³ 

[1] Centre for Human Psychopharmacology, Swinburne University, PO Box 218 HawthornVictoria, Melbourne, Australia;Centre for Human Psychopharmacology, Swinburne University, PO Box 218 HawthornVictoria, Melbourne, Australia;Department of Psychology, Swansea University, Swansea, Wales, UK;NatMed Research Unit, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW, Australia;

关键词: B vitamins;    Stress;    Cognition;    Genetics;    Homocysteine;    Occupational stress;    Work-related stress;    MRI;    fMRI;    MRS;   

DOI  :  10.1186/1475-2891-13-122

 received in 2014-07-30, accepted in 2014-12-12,  发布年份 2014

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundWorkplace stress in Australia and other western countries has been steadily increasing over the past decade. It can be observed not only in terms of increased compensation claims but also costs due to absenteeism, loss of productivity at work and reduced psychological and physiological health and well-being. Given the cost and pervasive effects of stress in the modern workforce, time efficient and cost-effective interventions capable of reducing occupational stress (or strain) and burnout are urgently required for the improved well-being of stressed employees. One intervention gaining scientific traction is supplementation with nutritional interventions, particularly the B group vitamins.MethodsThis study was developed to examine the effects of B group vitamins on workplace stress and mood variables with a sample of full-time employed older adults who subjectively report feeling stressed. The study is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-groups clinical trial where 200 (N = 100/group) participants will be randomized to receive Blackmores® Executive B Stress Formula or placebo daily for a period of 6 months. Participants will be tested at baseline and 6 months post-randomization on workplace stress, cognitive, personality and mood measures, cardiovascular (brachial and aortic systolic and diastolic blood pressures as well as arterial stiffness), biochemical (assays to measure inflammation and safety) as well as genetic assessments (to assess stress processing) and neuroimaging measures (to investigate in vivo mechanisms of action of B vitamins). In addition to this pre- and post- supplementation testing, participants will also complete a battery of self-report questionnaires online to assess their stress and mood once a month for the duration of the study. The primary aim of the study is to investigate the effects of B vitamin supplementation on work related stress. The secondary aims are to explore the mechanisms underpinning any changes in mood or workplace stress due to the B vitamin intervention by examining relationships between cognitive, biological, neuroimaging and cardiovascular variables over 6 months. A subset of 40 participants (N = 20/group) will undergo neuroimaging at baseline and at 6 months using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) in order to further explore in vivo mechanisms of action of B vitamins.Trial registrationAustralia and New Zealand Clinical Trials Register (ANZCTR):ACTRN12613000294752

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Stough et al.; licensee BioMed Central. 2014