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Key Nutrients and Mental Health

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Mental Health Impairment
Interventions
Dietary Supplement: Vitamin D
Dietary Supplement: Placebo
Registration Number
NCT03336125
Lead Sponsor
University of Bergen
Brief Summary

The purpose of the project is to investigate whether an intervention program with vitamin D supplementation is able to improve the biology of stress resilience as well as subjective well-being in individuals with antisocial behavior problems (forensic inpatients).

Detailed Description

This is a randomized control trial looking at the effects of vitamin D supplements on mental health in a group of forensic inpatients. More specific the effects of vitamin D will be investigated in relation to underlying biological mechanisms associated with resilience (e.g., serotonin, cortisol, heart rate variability and executive functioning), but also subjective well-being such as sleep quality, anxiety, depression, self-reported resilience and physical activity. About 100 participants will be randomized to an intervention group (vitamin D) or a control group (placebo). The intervention will last for 3-4 months. Pre-test will start in October/November 2017 and post-test in April/May 2018.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
Male
Target Recruitment
86
Inclusion Criteria
  • Patients with intelligence quotient > 70 will be invited.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Patients with intelligence quotient <70 will be excluded.
  • Patients already taking vitamin D.
  • Patients with psychotic disorders.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Vitamin D groupVitamin DIntervention is vitamin D supplement
Control groupPlaceboPlacebo capsule contains olive oil
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in total cholesterol from pre-test (baseline) to post-test (after 4 months)Time for blood sample: about 10-15 minutes (at both pre and post test)

Measured from blood sample

Change in triglycerides from pre-test (baseline) to post-test (after 4 months)Time for blood sample: about 10-15 minutes (at both pre and post-test)

Measured from blood sample

Change in heart rate variability from pre-test (baseline) to post-test (after 4 months)5 minutes of baseline, during the cognitive testing (up to 60 minutes) and 5 minutes of recovery (at both pre and post test)
Change in vitamin D level in blood from pre-test (baseline) to post-test (after 4 months)Time for blood sample: about 10-15 minutes (at both pre and post test)

Measured from blood sample

Change in serotonin from pre-test (baseline) to post-test (after 4 months)Time for blood sample: about 10-15 minutes (at both pre and post test)

Measured form blood sample

Change in cortisol from pre-test (baseline) to post-test (after 4 months)7 samples over 24 hours (at both pre and post-test)

Saliva

Change in performance on working memory tasks (N-back) from pre-test (baseline) to post-test (after 4 months)About 8-10 minutes (at both pre and post-test)

Computerized cognitive task

Change in performance on Tower of Hanoi Task from pre-test (baseline) to post-test (after 4 months)About 10-15 minutes (at bot pre and post-test)

Computerized cognitive task

Change in performance on Tower of London Task from pre-test (baseline) to post-test (after 4 months)About 10-15 minutes (at both pre and post test)

Computerized cognitive task

Change in lipoproteins from pre-test (baseline) to post-test (after 4 months)Time for blood sample: about 10-15 minutes (at both pre and post test)

Measured from blood sample

Change in performance on Iowa Gambling Task from pre-test (baseline) to post-test (after 4 months)About 15-20 minutes (at both pre and post test)

Computerized cognitive task

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in sleep from pre-test (baseline) to post-test (after 4 months)One week before intervention and one week after intervention (i.e., pre and post-test)

Measured by Ambulatory Monitoring System together with a sleep log

Houston Non-Exercise QuestionnaireThe physical activity log will be filled out weekly over the course of the study period (i.e., 24 -28 weeks) and estimated time per week is 10 minutes.

The log consists of weekly recording of various activity levels.

Change in self-reported depression (Beck Depression Inventory) from pre-test (baseline) to post-test (after 4 months)About 5-10 minutes (at both pre and post-test)
Change on Epworth Sleepiness Scale from pre-test (baseline) to post-test (after 4 months)About 5-10 minutes (at both pre and post-test)
Change in self-reported state and trait anxiety (STAI questionnaire) from pre-test (baseline) to post-test (after 4 months)About 10 minutes (at both pre and post-test)
Change in self-reported resilience (Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale 25) from pre-test (baseline) to post-test (after 4 months)About 5 minutes (at both pre and post-test)
Change in post-traumatic stress symptoms (Impact of event scale -Revised) from pre-test (baseline) to post-test (after 4 months)About 5-10 minutes (at both pre and post-test)

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Sand Ridge Secure Treatment Center

🇺🇸

Mauston, Wisconsin, United States

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