Zinc Enhances Women’s Moods

IWATE, Japan—Zinc supplements may reduce anger and depression in young women, according to a pilot study out of Japan (Eur J Clin Nutr. 2010 Mar;64(3):331-3). Researchers from Morioka Daigaku Junior College developed the double blind, placebo-controlled study and randomized 30 women to ingest either a multivitamin capsule, or a multivitamin with an additional 7 mg of zinc for 10 weeks. At the end of the intervention, women taking the multi with the added zinc had significant reductions in the anger-hostility score (P=0.009) and depression-dejection score (P=0.011) in the Profile of Moods State (POMS); serum zinc concentrations also increased significantly. There were no mood changes in the women taking only the multivitamin, suggesting zinc positively affects mood.