Can taking a zinc supplement during pregnancy reduce the symptoms of depression both before and after the baby is born?
- Conditions
- Perinatal depressionMental and Behavioural Disorders
- Registration Number
- ISRCTN80468181
- Lead Sponsor
- niversity of Surrey
- Brief Summary
Not available
- Detailed Description
Not available
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- Recruiting
- Sex
- Female
- Target Recruitment
- 50
1. Pregnant women irrespective of age, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, pregnancy status (primigravida or multigravida)
2. Pregnant women may be prescribed an antidepressant or not
3. Pregnant women may be taking supplements or not
Women infected with HIV will be excluded. Whilst they are particularly susceptible to zinc deficiency, the HIV virus also requires zinc and excessive dietary zinc has been linked with declining CD4 cell counts and reduced survival. Baum et al. (2010) carried out a RCT of zinc supplementation to prevent immunological failure in HIV-infected adults and whilst no serious side effects were reported, the dose was significantly lower than the suggested therapeutic dose for this study. More research is needed; hence women who are HIV positive will be excluded.
Study & Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Study Design
- Not specified
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Severity of depressive symptoms, measured using the Edinburgh Post Natal Depression Score at 6-12 weeks baseline, 20 weeks/anomaly scan, 28-30 weeks, birth visit up to 10 days post delivery, and 4 weeks post delivery
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Measured at 6-12 weeks baseline, 20 weeks/anomaly scan, 28-30 weeks, birth visit up to 10 days post delivery, and 4 weeks post delivery:<br>1. Zinc levels in the blood, measured using a blood test<br>2. Zinc intake from diet, measured using the Zinc Food Frequency Questionnaire and 4-day food and drink diary