The COVID-19 pandemic and social isolation order induced stress/anxiety as well as cellphone dependence. As a result, sleep disruption and mental distress became major health concerns. Gamma-aminobutyric acid type-A receptor (GABAAR) is one of the key players in modulating sleep. Dihydromyricetin (DHM), an herbal compound, plays a role in GABAAR modulation and mitigating anxiety. The investigators' partner in China obtained 288 participants who completed the online survey to gain insight into how stress/anxiety and time spent on cellphones affected sleep and mood. The participants were then enrolled in a randomized placebo-controlled double-blind study to assess the effects of DHM on sleep and improvement on stress/anxiety and cellphone using time.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
288
DHM is a positive modulator of GABA. We hypothesize the DHM could reduce stress/anxiety induced insomnia during the pandemic
Excipients including extracts of celery, strawberry, oranges, rose, and beet blended in powder form of 1 g
Furise Group Co
Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Effect of DHM on sleep duration
Changes in hours of sleep reported as the difference between self-reported hours of sleep before and after DHM or placebo.
Time frame: 20 days
Effect of DHM on stress levels
Changes in stress levels reported as the difference between self-reported stress levels before and after DHM or placebo. Stress levels were scaled from 0 to 10, with 10 being the highest stress level.
Time frame: 20 days
Effect of DHM on cellphone time
Changes in hours spent on cellphone reported as the difference between self-reported cellphone usage before and after DHM or placebo.
Time frame: 20 days
Effect of DHM on feelings after waking up
Changes in negative feelings after waking up, reported as the difference between the self-reported negative feelings before and after DHM or placebo. In the survey, "feelings after waking up" included negative feelings such as tense, lack of motivation, and irritable/angry. To quantify these feelings, a 'Yes' counted as -1 point, a 'No' counted as 0 points, and a 'Not sure' counted as -0.5 points. The sum of these scores were calculated as the total negative feeling after waking up. Lower score (more negative) indicated worse feelings.
Time frame: 20 days
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