title: Supplemented zinc does not alter mood in healthy older European adults--a randomised placebo-controlled trial: the Zenith study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Older people are vulnerable to zinc deficiency, which may impact upon their mood. This randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind intervention study aimed to investigate the effect of oral zinc gluconate supplementation (15 mg/d; 30 mg/d; and placebo) on subjective mood (affect) in older Europeans.
  
  
  METHODS
  Healthy volunteers (n 387) aged 55-87 years were recruited.
  
  
  METHODS
  Volunteers in Rome (Italy; n 108) and Grenoble (France; n 91) were aged 70-87 years and those in Coleraine (Northern Ireland; n 93) and Clermont-Ferrand (France; n 95) were aged 55-70 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mood was measured using the Positive and Negative Affect Scale on four occasions per day over 4 d at baseline, 3 and 6 months post-intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mixed ANOVA indicated that neither positive nor negative affect altered in response to zinc (15 mg/d or 30 mg/d) compared to placebo in either the 55-70 years or the ≥70 years age group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that zinc does not benefit mood in healthy older people.
authors.affiliation: Northern Ireland Centre for Food and Health, University of Ulster, Coleraine, BT521SA, Northern Ireland, UK. b.knox@ulster.ac.uk
authors.forename: Barbara J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Stewart-Knox
authors.forename: Gordon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rae
authors.forename: Ellen E A
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McConville
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Polito
authors.forename: Maud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Andriollo-Sanchez
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Coudray
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Strain
mesh_terms: D000339:Affect / Q000187:drug effects*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014131:Trace Elements / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015032:Zinc / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D014131:Trace Elements; D015032:Zinc