Effect of Talbinah food consumption on depressive symptoms among elderly individuals in long term care facilities, randomized clinical trial

Abstract

Talbinah is a barley syrup cooked with milk and sweetened by honey. In his famous Hadith on Talbinah, the Prophet Mohammad (SAW) recommended it when sad events happen for its effect on soothing hearts and relieving sadness. This 3-week crossover designed, randomized clinical trial was conducted to determine the effect of Talbinah on mood and depression among institutionalized elderly people in Seremban. A sample of 30 depressed elderly subjects (21 men and 9 women) was selected from the long term care facility. Three different interview-based validated scales (Geriatric Depression Scale, Depression Anxiety Stress Scales, and Profile of Mood States) were used to determine mood, depression, stress, and anxiety at week 0, 3, 4, and 7. The nutritional value of Talbinah was examined using proximate food analysis, minerals content analysis, and differential amino acid analysis. The results indicated that Talbinah is a high carbohydrate food (86.4%) and has a high tryptophan: branch chain amino acids ratio (1:2). A Wilcoxon nonparametric test showed that there was a statistically significant decrease on depression, stress, and mood disturbances scores among the intervention group (P < 0.05) for all parameters. In conclusion, Talbinah has the potential to reduce depression and enhance mood among the subjects. Ingestion of functional foods such as Talbinah may provide a mental health benefit to elderly people.

Keywords: Talbinah; cross over study; elderly; food and depression.

Figure 1

Sampling procedures. Abbreviations: GDS-R, Geriatric Depression Scale-Residential; MMSE, Mini Mental Stat Examination; DASS, Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale; POMS, Profile of Mood Stat LTC, long term care; GDS-R, geriatric Depression Scale-Residential.

Figure 2

Study design and data collection. Notes: Week 0: Baseline assessment, Week 3: End of period 1, Week 4: End of wash out period, Week 7: End of period 2. GDS-R, DASS, POMS scales were scored at weeks 0, 3, 4, and 7. Nutritional status assessments (weight, height, MUAC, CC, and SGA) were done at weeks 0, 3, 4, and 7. Two-day food-weighing record was done once during each period. Abbreviations: GDS-R, Geriatric Depression Scale-Residential; DASS, Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale; POMS, Profile of Mood States; MUAC, mid upper arm circumference; CC, calf circumference; SGA, subjective global assessment.