Shaken but unstirred? Effects of micronutrients on stress and trauma after an earthquake: RCT evidence comparing formulas and doses.
OBJECTIVE
To compare two micronutrient (vitamins and minerals) formulas (Berocca™ and CNE™) and assess their impact on emotions and stress related to the 6.3 earthquake on February 22(nd) 2011 in Christchurch, New Zealand.


METHODS
91 adults experiencing heightened anxiety or stress 2-3 months following the earthquake were randomized to Berocca™, CNE™ low dose (CNE4), or CNE™ high dose (CNE8), for 28 days and monitored weekly via on-line questionnaires and followed 1 month post-trial. A nonrandomized control group (n = 25) completed questionnaires at baseline and 4 weeks.


RESULTS
All treatment groups experienced significant declines in psychological symptoms (p < .001). CNE™ groups experienced greater reduction in intrusive thoughts as compared with Berocca™ (p = .05), with no group differences on other measures of psychological symptoms. However, CNE8 group reported greater improvement in mood, anxiety, and energy (p < .05) with twice as many reporting being "much" to "very much" improved and five times more likely to continue taking CNE™ post-trial than Berocca™ group. Treated participants had better outcomes on most measures over 4 weeks as compared to controls.


CONCLUSIONS
This study supports micronutrients as an inexpensive and practical treatment for acute stress following a natural disaster with a slight advantage to higher doses ACTRN 12611000460909.
Department of Psychology, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand. julia.rucklidge@canterbury.ac.nz
Julia J
JJ
Rucklidge
Rebecca
R
Andridge
Brigette
B
Gorman
Neville
N
Blampied
Heather
H
Gordon
Anna
A
Boggis
D000328:Adult; D055866:Earthquakes; D005260:Female; D005280:Fenoterol; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018977:Micronutrients / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008903:Minerals; D009520:New Zealand; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014815:Vitamins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055815:Young Adult
D018977:Micronutrients; D008903:Minerals; D014815:Vitamins; D005280:Fenoterol