title: Systematic review of safety and tolerability of a complex micronutrient formula used in mental health.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Theoretically, consumption of complex, multinutrient formulations of vitamins and minerals should be safe, as most preparations contain primarily the nutrients that have been in the human diet for millennia, and at safe levels as defined by the Dietary Reference Intakes. However, the safety profile of commercial formulae may differ from foods because of the amounts and combinations of nutrients they contain. As these complex formulae are being studied and used clinically with increasing frequency, there is a need for direct evaluation of safety and tolerability.
  
  
  METHODS
  All known safety and tolerability data collected on one complex nutrient formula was compiled and evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data were assembled from all the known published and unpublished studies for the complex formula with the largest amount of published research in mental health. Biological safety data from 144 children and adults were available from six sources: there were no occurrences of clinically meaningful negative outcomes/effects or abnormal blood tests that could be attributed to toxicity. Adverse event (AE) information from 157 children and adults was available from six studies employing the current version of this formula, and only minor, transitory reports of headache and nausea emerged. Only one of the studies permitted a direct comparison between micronutrient treatment and medication: none of the 88 pediatric and adult participants had any clinically meaningful abnormal laboratory values, but tolerability data in the group treated with micronutrients revealed significantly fewer AEs and less weight gain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This compilation of safety and tolerability data is reassuring with respect to the broad spectrum approach that employs complex nutrient formulae as a primary treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Calgary, and Behavioural Research Unit, Alberta Children's Hospital, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: J Steven A
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.forename: Susan G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Crawford
authors.forename: Estelle T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Goldstein
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Field
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Burgess
authors.forename: Bonnie J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Kaplan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards*; D005526:Food, Formulated / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards*; D005527:Food, Fortified; D006801:Humans; D008603:Mental Health; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards*; D008903:Minerals; D012449:Safety; D014131:Trace Elements; D014815:Vitamins
chemical_list: D018977:Micronutrients; D008903:Minerals; D014131:Trace Elements; D014815:Vitamins