Trial reportBMC psychiatry2018
A randomized controlled double-blind clinical trial comparing versus placebo the effect of an edible algal extract (Ulva Lactuca) on the component of depression in healthy volunteers with anhedonia.
Trial report in BMC psychiatry, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT03545399 (Essai Clinique randomisé en Double Aveugle Contre Placebo de l'évaluation de l'Effet d'un Extrait d'Algues Comestibles), which is not on this map. Cited by 10 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Essai Clinique randomisé en Double Aveugle Contre Placebo de l'évaluation de l'Effet d'un Extrait d'Algues Comestibles (Ulva Lactuca) Chez Des Volontaires Sains présentant Une anhédonie associée à Une Baisse de Moral
Who cites it
10 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 15 citations in OpenAlex.
- Understanding the research landscape of over-the-counter herbal products, dietary supplements, and medications evaluated for depressive symptoms in adults: a scoping review.Frontiers in pharmacology · 2025Pooled it
- Effect of anNutrients · 2026Trial
- Algae and Algal Protein in Human Nutrition: A Narrative Review of Health Outcomes from Clinical Studies.Nutrients · 2026Review
- Therapeutic Potentials of the Seaweed-Derived Compounds for Alzheimer's Disease.Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Review
- Natural sulfur compounds in mental health and neurological disorders: insights from observational and intervention studies.Frontiers in nutrition · 2025Review
- Corrigendum: Edible seaweed-derived constituents: an undisclosed source of neuroprotective compounds.Neural regeneration research · 2021Article
- Marine algae as emerging therapeutic alternatives for depression: A review.Iranian journal of basic medical sciences · 2021Review
- Spirulina Microalgae and Brain Health: A Scoping Review of Experimental and Clinical Evidence.Marine drugs · 2021Article
- Edible seaweed-derived constituents: an undisclosed source of neuroprotective compounds.Neural regeneration research · 2020Review
- Seaweed Secondary Metabolites with Beneficial Health Effects: An Overview of Successes in In Vivo Studies and Clinical Trials.Marine drugs · 2019Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe effects of the seaweed extract were evaluated on the animal model equivalent of depression compared with a control group treated with the carrier (spring water) and a reference group treated with Imipramine and showed significative effect. This clinical trial was intended to confirm in humans the potential efficacy identified in animals. The primary objective was to compare against a placebo the effect of Ulva L.L extract in healthy volunteers whose anhedonia was characterized by a component of depression.
methodsSingle-centre double-blind randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial on parallel arms of two groups of 45 subjects. The study could include men or women aged 18 to 65 years with anhedonia characterized by a Snaith Hamilton Pleasure Scale score (SHAPS) of ≥5 and feeling low morale for at least four weeks characterized by a component of depression evaluated on the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology - Self Report (QIDS-SR). Evaluation criteria: QIDS-SR; Patient Global Improvement Impression (PGII) and Clinical Global Improvement Impression (CGII).
results86 subjects were included in the trial: 42 in the placebo group and 44 Ulva group. At D84, QIDS-SR significantly decreased more in the Ulva.L.L. group than in the placebo group (p: 0.0389). This difference is essentially linked to an improvement of the sleep disorders (p: 0.0219), of the psychomotor consequences (p: 0.002) and of the nutrition behaviour (p: 0.0694). 90.1% have the feeling of being improved in the Ulva group vs 72.5% in the placebo group (p: 0.0114) and in parallel 90.9% of the practitioners have the feeling that the subject has improved vs 70.8% (p: 0.0214).
conclusionThis double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial shows that daily intake for three months of a water-soluble extract of Ulva L.L. continues to significantly improve the component of depression of subjects presenting anhedonia compared with a placebo.
trial registrationTrial retrospectively registred on ClinicalTrial.gov under ID: NCT03545399 Date: 05/22/2018.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.