The NUTRIDOPE (NUTRItion-driven Detoxification of OPioid addicted patiEnts) study is a clinical trial that aims to investigate the role of pomegranate juice consumption by opioid-addicted patients under buprenorphine and methadone on craving, which is the primary outcome, and other parameters. In detail, fresh pomegranate juice will be administered for 120 days (250 ml, 7 days/week) to the patients and craving as well as other psychosocial (e.g., depression, mood state, quality of life) and biochemical (i.e., blood redox status and inflammation) parameters will be evaluated. It is hypothesized that pomegranate juice will reduce craving probably through the improvement of blood redox and inflammation status. Pomegranate juice, which is the examined nutritional intervention, will be administered to the participants of the experimental group, whereas their counterparts in the control group will not consume any similar beverage as a placebo due to the objective difficulties of making one that will be identical and not separable with the fresh pomegranate juice.
Background: Buprenorphine and methadone are considered the "gold standard" medication for addiction treatment (MAT) for patients with opioid use disorders (OUDs). However, they may cause side effects promoting craving (i.e., opioid use relapse). Therefore, the concurrent administration of natural products could be an adjunct intervention to back up opioid MAT. Pomegranate is a natural substance that contains antioxidant polyphenolic compounds, which have been associated with craving reduction. Moreover, pomegranate positively affects psychosocial parameters, such as depression and anxiety that are common feelings for patients with OUDs, probably due to its potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Objectives: The NUTRIDOPE (NUTRItion-driven Detoxification of OPioid addicted patiEnts) study aims to investigate the role of pomegranate juice consumption by patients with OUDs under buprenorphine and methadone on craving. Methods: Fresh pomegranate juice will be administered for 120 days (250 ml, 7 days/week) and craving, as the primary outcome, as well as other psychosocial (e.g., depression, mood state, quality of life) and biochemical (i.e., blood redox status and inflammation) parameters will be evaluated. Anticipated Results: It is hypothesized that pomegranate juice will reduce craving probably through the improvement of blood redox and inflammation status. Conclusions: NUTRIDOPE is a hypothesis-driven, evidence-based, multifactorial project that proposes a nutrition-based solution towards craving reduction for patients with OUDs under MAT, potentially assisting towards their successful rehab and societal reintegration.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
SUPPORTIVE_CARE
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
58
The pomegranate juice that will be used in the experiment is a 100% natural product without conservatives. It will kindly be donated from the company Rodi Hellas SA, Pella, Greece. The product is in line with the quality assurance certificates by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO 22000:2005), Global Gap, Grasp and Kosher.
Organization Against Drugs
Athens, Attica, Greece
Craving
Heroin Craving Questionnaire (HCQ), which is a validated instrument, will be used for the assessment of the effects of pomegranate juice on craving. It is consisted of 45 questions divided in 5 dimensions, namely desire to use heroin, intentions and planning to use heroin, anticipation of positive outcome, relief from withdrawal or dysphoria, and lack of control overuse. HCQ will be completed by the volunteers of both the experimental and control groups at four timepoints in order to assess the change on craving as follows: Before the start of the experiment (i.e., day 1 or baseline), in the middle of the experiment (i.e., day 60), at the end of the experiment (i.e., day 120), and 6 months after the end of the experiment (i.e., follow-up measurement).
Time frame: Changes between Day 1 (baseline) and the following time points: Day 60, Day 120, six months following the end of the experiment (follow-up measurement) will be assessed.
Quality of Life (QoL)
The Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) questionnaire will be used for the assessment of the pomegranate juice effects on the QoL of the patients. The questionnaire consists of two parts; the first part assesses parameters such as activity, pain, emotional reaction, sleep, social isolation, and mobility, whereas the second part evaluates the effects of health or disease on the activities of daily living.
Time frame: Day 1; Day 60; Day 120, six months following the end of the experiment (follow-up measurement)
Determination of antioxidant enzyme Catalase (CAT)
Spectrophotometric evaluation of the activity of the antioxidant enzyme CAT expressed in U/gr Hb (haemoglobin) in red blood cell lysate (RBCL). The enzyme activity will be compared between Day 1 (baseline) and the following time points: Day 60, Day 120, six months following the end of the experiment (follow-up measurement).
Time frame: Day 1; Day 60; Day 120, six months following the end of the experiment (follow-up measurement)
Measurement of the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of plasma
TAC will be evaluated spectrophotometrically in plasma expressed as mmol DPPH•/ml. TAC levels will be compared between Day 1 (baseline) and the following time points: Day 60, Day 120, six months following the end of the experiment (follow-up measurement).
Time frame: Day 1; Day 60; Day 120, six months following the end of the experiment (follow-up measurement)
In vitro evaluation of antioxidant and reducing properties of the administered pomegranate juice
The antioxidant and reducing properties of pomegranate juice will be evaluated using specific in vitro tests: 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), hydroxyl radical, superoxide radical, Fe+3 to Fe2+ reduction) expressed in half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) (μl).
Time frame: Day 1
Measurement of the concentration of protein carbonyls
Protein carbonyls, as a biomarker of protein oxidation, will be evaluated in plasma spectrophotometrically expressed in nmol/mg protein. The levels of protein carbonyls will be compared between Day 1 (baseline) and the following time points: Day 60, Day 120, six months following the end of the experiment (follow-up measurement).
Time frame: Day 1; Day 60; Day 120, six months following the end of the experiment (follow-up measurement)
Measurement of the concentration of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS)
TBARS, a biomarker of lipid peroxidation, will be evaluated in plasma spectrophotometrically expressed in μmol/l. The levels of TBARS will be compared between Day 1 (baseline) and the following time points: Day 60, Day 120, six months following the end of the experiment (follow-up measurement).
Time frame: Day 1; Day 60; Day 120, six months following the end of the experiment (follow-up measurement)
Measurement of the capacity of plasma to reduce hydroxyl radical (OH•)
Spectrophotometric evaluation of the ability of plasma to reduce hydroxyl radical expressed in mmol deoxyribose/ml. The reducing capacity of plasma will be compared between Day 1 (baseline) and the following time points: Day 60, Day 120, six months following the end of the experiment (follow-up measurement).
Time frame: Day 1; Day 60; Day 120, six months following the end of the experiment (follow-up measurement)
Measurement of the capacity of plasma to reduce superoxide radical (O2•-)
Spectrophotometric evaluation of the ability of plasma to reduce superoxide radical expressed in % scavenging capacity. The reducing capacity of plasma will be compared between Day 1 (baseline) and the following time points: Day 60, Day 120, six months following the end of the experiment (follow-up measurement).
Time frame: Day 1; Day 60; Day 120, six months following the end of the experiment (follow-up measurement)
Measurement of the reducing power
Spectrophotometric evaluation of the ability of plasma to reduce Fe+3 to Fe+2 expressed in mmol potassium ferricyanide/ml. The reducing capacity of plasma will be compared between Day 1 (baseline) and the following time points: Day 60, Day 120, six months following the end of the experiment (follow-up measurement).
Time frame: Day 1; Day 60; Day 120, six months following the end of the experiment (follow-up measurement)
Measurement of GSH concentration
The reduced form of glutathione (GSH) as a crucial antioxidant molecule will be measured spectrophotometrically and its levels will be expressed in μmol/g Hb. GSH levels will be compared between Day 1 (baseline) and the following time points: Day 60, Day 120, six months following the end of the experiment (follow-up measurement).
Time frame: Day 1; Day 60; Day 120, six months following the end of the experiment (follow-up measurement)
Measurement of the activity of the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD)
The activity of the antioxidant enzyme SOD expressed in U/gr Hb (haemoglobin) will be measured in red blood cell lysate (RBCL). SOD activity levels will be compared between Day 1 (baseline) and the following time points: Day 60, Day 120, six months following the end of the experiment (follow-up measurement).
Time frame: Day 1; Day 60; Day 120, six months following the end of the experiment (follow-up measurement)
Measurement of the activity of the antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase (GPx)
The activity of the antioxidant enzyme GPx expressed in U/gr Hb (haemoglobin) will be measured in red blood cell lysate (RBCL). GPx activity levels will be compared between Day 1 (baseline) and the following time points: Day 60, Day 120, six months following the end of the experiment (follow-up measurement).
Time frame: Day 1; Day 60; Day 120, six months following the end of the experiment (follow-up measurement)
Measurement of the activity of the antioxidant enzyme glutathione reductase (GR)
The activity of the antioxidant enzyme GR expressed in U/gr Hb (haemoglobin) will be measured in red blood cell lysate (RBCL). GR activity levels will be compared between Day 1 (baseline) and the following time points: Day 60, Day 120, six months following the end of the experiment (follow-up measurement).
Time frame: Day 1; Day 60; Day 120, six months following the end of the experiment (follow-up measurement)
Measurement of the concentration of interferon gamma (IFN-γ)
IFN-γ, expressed in pg/ml, is a cytokine that recruits macrophages at the site of inflammation. Its concentration will be assessed through immunofluorescence. IFN-γ levels will be compared between Day 1 (baseline) and the following time points: Day 60, Day 120, six months following the end of the experiment (follow-up measurement).
Time frame: Day 1; Day 60; Day 120, six months following the end of the experiment (follow-up measurement)
Measurement of the concentration of interferon alpha-2 (IFN-a2)
IFN-a2, expressed in pg/ml, regulates the activation of the immune system and inhibits cell proliferation. Its concentration will be assessed through immunofluorescence. IFN-a2 levels will be compared between Day 1 (baseline) and the following time points: Day 60, Day 120, six months following the end of the experiment (follow-up measurement).
Time frame: Day 1; Day 60; Day 120, six months following the end of the experiment (follow-up measurement)
Measurement of the concentration of interleukin-1 betta (IL-1b)
IL-1b, expressed in pg/ml, is activated by macrophages and neutrophils and regulate immune response. Its concentration will be assessed through immunofluorescence. IL-1b levels will be compared between Day 1 (baseline) and the following time points: Day 60, Day 120, six months following the end of the experiment (follow-up measurement).
Time frame: Day 1; Day 60; Day 120, six months following the end of the experiment (follow-up measurement)
Measurement of the concentration of interleukin-8 (IL-8)
Chemokine IL-8, expressed in pg/ml, induces chemotaxis of neutrophils and other granulocytes in an inflammation site. Its concentration will be assessed through immunofluorescence. IL-8 levels will be compared between Day 1 (baseline) and the following time points: Day 60, Day 120, six months following the end of the experiment (follow-up measurement).
Time frame: Day 1; Day 60; Day 120, six months following the end of the experiment (follow-up measurement)
Measurement of the concentration of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1)
MCP-1,expressed in pg/ml, recruits monocytes, lymphocytes, and neutrophils at the site of inflammation. Its concentration will be assessed through immunofluorescence. MCP-1 levels will be compared between Day 1 (baseline) and the following time points: Day 60, Day 120, six months following the end of the experiment (follow-up measurement).
Time frame: Day 1; Day 60; Day 120, six months following the end of the experiment (follow-up measurement)
Measurement of the concentration of interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1a)
IL-1a, expressed in pg/m, regulates immune response after its activation by macrophages and neutrophils. Its concentration will be assessed through immunofluorescence. IL-1a levels will be compared between Day 1 (baseline) and the following time points: Day 60, Day 120, six months following the end of the experiment (follow-up measurement).
Time frame: Day 1; Day 60; Day 120, six months following the end of the experiment (follow-up measurement)
Measurement of the concentration of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-a)
TNF-a, expressed in pg/ml, is realised by macrophages for cell signaling as part of the immune response. Its concentration will be assessed through immunofluorescence. TNF-a levels will be compared between Day 1 (baseline) and the following time points: Day 60, Day 120, six months following the end of the experiment (follow-up measurement).
Time frame: Day 1; Day 60; Day 120, six months following the end of the experiment (follow-up measurement)
Measurement of the concentration of melatonin
Melatonin is involved in circadian regulation through sleep-wake timing. Saliva samples will be taken at 22.00 in dim light by patients themselves under oral and typed guidelines. Dim light melatonin onset (DLMO) concentration will be measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and will be expressed in pg/ml. Melatonin levels will be compared between Day 1 (baseline) and the following time points: Day 60, Day 120, six months following the end of the experiment (follow-up measurement).
Time frame: Day 1; Day 60; Day 120, six months following the end of the experiment (follow-up measurement)
Measurement of the concentration of cortisol
Cortisol belongs to glycocorticoid class of hormones related with stress system and can weaken the activity of immune system through the releasing of cytokines in inflammation site. Plasma samples will be collected early in the morning and cortisol concentration will be expressed in pg/ml and be measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Cortisol levels will be compared between Day 1 (baseline) and the following time points: Day 60, Day 120, six months following the end of the experiment (follow-up measurement).
Time frame: Day 1; Day 60; Day 120, six months following the end of the experiment (follow-up measurement)
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