Effect of zinc supplementation on mood states in young women: a pilot study

• Published in: European journal of clinical nutrition Vol. 64; no. 3; pp. 331 - 333
• Main Authors: Sawada, T, Yokoi, K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 01-03-2010; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 631/378/1457; 692/700/459/1994; Adolescent; Affect - drug effects; Affect - physiology; Anger; Anger - drug effects; Anger - physiology; anger-hostility; Biological and medical sciences; blood chemistry; Clinical Nutrition; Demographic aspects; depression; Depression - blood; Depression - drug therapy; Depression, Mental; depression-dejection; dietary minerals; Dietary Supplements; Double-Blind Method; Emotions; Epidemiology; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Female; Food and nutrition; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Health aspects; Humans; Internal Medicine; Medical sciences; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Mental depression; Metabolic Diseases; Mood; Neuropsychology; Nutritional Status; Pilot Projects; Profile of Moods State; Psychological aspects; Psychometrics; Public Health; Risk factors; short-communication; signs and symptoms (animals and humans); Supplements; Trace Elements - administration & dosage; Trace Elements - blood; Trace Elements - pharmacology; Treatment Outcome; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; vitamin-mineral supplements; Vitamins - administration & dosage; Vitamins - blood; Women; Young Adult; young adults; Young women; Zinc; Zinc - administration & dosage; Zinc - blood; Zinc - pharmacology; Zinc in the body; Japan; POMS; serum zinc concentration; zinc supplementation; CMI; women's mood; Human; Metabolic diseases; Concentration; Zinc; Mood; Female; Serum; Supplementation; Woman
• ISSN: 0954-3007; 1476-5640
• DOI: 10.1038/ejcn.2009.158

The relation of zinc (Zn) nutriture to brain development and function has been elucidated. The purpose of this study is to examine whether Zn supplementation improves mood states in young women. The study used a double-blind, randomized and placebo-controlled procedure. The major outcomes were psychological measures, somatic symptoms and serum Zn. Thirty women were placed randomly and in equal numbers into two groups, and they ingested one capsule containing multivitamins (MVs) or MV and 7 mg Zn daily for 10 weeks. Women who took MV and Zn showed a significant reduction in anger–hostility score (P=0.009) and depression–dejection score (P=0.011) in the Profile of Moods State (POMS) and a significant increase in serum Zn concentration (P=0.008), whereas women who took only MV did not. Our results suggest that Zn supplementation may be effective in reducing anger and depression.