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A six-week Pythagorean Self-Awareness Intervention improves dietary habits, psychological outcomes, and biomarkers of oxidative stress and telomere length in adults

In a quasi-experimental pre-post study of 30 healthy adults, a six-week Pythagorean Self-Awareness Intervention was associated with significant improvements in Mediterranean diet adherence (p=0.001), reduced perceived stress (PSS-14, p=0.004), reduced depressive symptoms (DASS-21, p=0.005), improved sleep quality (PSQI, p<0.001), decreased oxidative stress (p=0.023), increased antioxidant capacity (p=0.009), and increased leukocyte telomere length (p<0.001). The intervention also led to reductions in body weight, BMI, waist and hip circumference, and intermuscular adipose tissue (all p<0.05).

Last updated: Aug 15, 2026•0 RCTs•📖 Read as article →

Evidence Score

Evidence Score32/100
Human RCT☆☆☆☆☆
Meta-analysis☆☆☆☆☆
Mechanism★★★★★
Safety★★★★☆
Confidencelow

Study Evidence

Study 1. Impact of a Behavioral Lifestyle Intervention on Dietary Habits, Anthropometric and Psychological Outcomes, and Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress and Telomere Length in Adults.

observational

Galatoula P, Pipelias P, Mantikas V, Papadopoulou A, Chrousos G, Bacopoulou F, Mykoniatis M, Darviri C · Nutrients (2026)

Participants: N/A
Duration: 6 weeks
Intervention: Six-week Pythagorean Self-Awareness Intervention (PSAI), a structured behavioral lifestyle intervention focusing on self-awareness and self-regulation
Outcome: Mediterranean diet adherence, anthropometric measures (weight, BMI, waist/hip circumference, intermuscular adipose tissue), psychological outcomes (PSS-14, DASS-21, RSES, PSQI), cognitive performance (SDMT, CVLT-II, BVMT-R), oxidative stress, antioxidant capacity, leukocyte telomere length (T/S ratio)
Effect Size: N/A
Population: 30 apparently healthy adults

Result:

PubMed: 42588125DOI: 10.3390/nu18152501

Mechanism Graph

Structured behavioral intervention enhances self-awareness and self-regulation
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Improved dietary habits (Mediterranean diet adherence) and reduced stress
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Reduced oxidative stress and increased antioxidant capacity
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Increased leukocyte telomere length, indicating improved cellular aging

Limitations

  • ⚠Quasi-experimental design without a control group, limiting causal inference
  • ⚠Small sample size (n=30) and short duration (6 weeks) may limit generalizability

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Pythagorean Self-Awareness Intervention (PSAI)?▼

PSAI is a structured behavioral intervention based on Pythagorean principles that aims to enhance self-awareness and self-regulation through practices such as mindfulness, reflection, and lifestyle modifications.

Did the intervention affect telomere length?▼

Yes, leukocyte telomere length increased significantly (p<0.001) after the six-week intervention, suggesting improved cellular aging profiles.

What psychological improvements were observed?▼

Participants showed significant reductions in perceived stress (PSS-14, p=0.004) and depressive symptoms (DASS-21, p=0.005), and improvements in self-esteem (RSES, p=0.003) and sleep quality (PSQI, p<0.001).

Is this study a randomized controlled trial?▼

No, it is a quasi-experimental pre-post study without a control group, so the findings are preliminary and require confirmation in randomized controlled trials.

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References

  1. 1.Galatoula P, Pipelias P, Mantikas V, Papadopoulou A, Chrousos G, Bacopoulou F, Mykoniatis M, Darviri C. "Impact of a Behavioral Lifestyle Intervention on Dietary Habits, Anthropometric and Psychological Outcomes, and Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress and Telomere Length in Adults.." Nutrients, 2026. PMID: 42588125 DOI: 10.3390/nu18152501
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Evidence scores reflect the quality and quantity of available research, not clinical recommendations. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement or intervention.