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Clinical Evidence for the Effectiveness of Guava Seed
Extract in the Treatment of Winter Blues
Ima Wannabe and Serious Q. Student
Human Biology, Spring 2002
Earlham College, Richmond IN
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Condition & Symptoms:
Winter Blues is food sensitive (FS) form of Seasonal Affect
Disorder (FS-SAD)
FS-SAD is characterized by:
•inability to get out of couches or chairs once seated
•droopy eyes and feelings of fatigue
•inability to wait for the end of Winter
FS-SAD is particularly serious in individuals on Sodhexo
Meal Plans and/or persons in Richmond, IN |
Clinical Trial In-Focus:
Jones, 1989
Study design:
300 patients diagnosed with FS-SAD were divided into
two matched groups
(1)
.
A double blind study
(2)
of guava Seed Extract(GSE): group A was given Guava Seed
Extract in pill form (10 kg/day or 3 months), Group B was given
placebo (3). |
Clinical Trial In-Focus
Jones, 1989
Insert a chart/graph showing relative
risk of serious side effects.......
This figure from Jones (1989) shows that incontinence
was the highest frequency side effect resulting from
GSE, but that many more side effects resulted at substantial
rates.
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Side-Effects & Contraindications:
Guava seed extract has been known to make patients
feel "giddy" and energetic, but may also result
in meal-plan cancellations with resulting financial
devastation to Sodexho mariott and it's holding
companies.
In 50 percent of pateints with FS-SAD, Guava Seed
Extract has been associated with spontaneous paralysis,
congestive heart failure, incontenance, demetia,
skin disorders and social ineptitude.
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Etiology:
FS-SAD is primarily caused by environmental factors, including:
•cold weather
•lack of leaves on trees
•mud
•boring food |
Clinical Trial In-Focus
Jones, 1989
Major end-points or measured variables :
•All pateints received a general physical exam at the beginning
and end of the study to assess the general well being and
overall health of participants.
•Diagnosis and quantification of FS-SAD symptoms was performed
by the participants responding to a written questionnaire. |
Clinical Trial In-Focus
Jones, 1989
Summary/Conclusions
Patients receiveing Guava Seed Extract had significantly fewer
disease symptoms (p < .01)
(4)
There was a 62% rate of serious side effects not seen
with placebo (p < .001) (Jones, 1989)
(5)
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The authors concluded that GSE was not a save treatment
for FS-SAD
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Conclusions:
•Guava Seed Extract was effective for
the treatment of FS-SAD in 4 out of 5 recent clinical
trials.
•The health risks and detrimental side effects
of Guava Seed Extact therapy are far worse than FS-SAD.
•Guava Seed Extract is not safe and should not be used
as a therapy for FS-SAD.
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Prognosis:
FS-SAD resolves with the arrival of Spring, but may result
in the following:
•weight gain
•suddent travel to tropical locations
•sedentary & other unhealthy lifestyle changes |
Clinical Trial In-Focus
Jones, 1989
Insert a graph/figure/table from paper
This figure from Jones (1989) demonstrates a 92% reduction
in FS-SAD symptoms (P<0.01 vs placebo).
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Summary of Clinical Trials
Guava Seed Extract in FS-SAD
•Blandasheck (1989), Spicemeup
(2000), Schmoe (2001) and
the GSAD multicenter trial (2001) found increased
symptom severity with bland food and bad weather and total remission
with guava seed extract.
•Soldout, et al (1999) found no benefit
from increased food flavor/quality on FS-SAD in a population
of college students in Richmond, IN. Mango seed extract
was similarly ineffective (study funded by Sodhexo).
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Literature Cited
Be sure to include at least 9 sources (more would be fine,
too)
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