title: Acute mood but not cognitive improvements following administration of a single multivitamin and mineral supplement in healthy women aged 50 and above: a randomised controlled trial.
abstract: A number of randomised controlled trials have indicated that multivitamin/mineral supplementation for a period of 4 weeks or greater can enhance mood and cognition. To date, no studies have investigated whether a single multivitamin dose can benefit mental function in older adults. This study investigated the acute effects of a single multivitamin and mineral and herbal (MVMH) supplement versus placebo on self ratings of mood and the performance of an effortful computerised cognitive battery in a sample of 76 healthy women aged 50-75 years. Mood was assessed using the depression anxiety stress scale (DASS), state trait anxiety inventory-state anxiety scale and visual analogue scales (VAS). Mood was rated at 1 h post supplementation and again after the competition of the cognitive assessments at 2 h post supplementation. It was demonstrated that the MVMH supplement improved overall DASS mood ratings; however, the most prominent effects appeared to be a reduction in ratings of perceived mental stress. These findings were confirmed using visual analogue scales, with these measures also demonstrating MVMH-related increased ratings of calmness. There were no benefits of the MVMH to mood ratings of depression and performance was not enhanced on the cognitive battery. Supplementation with a single multivitamin, mineral and herbal supplement reduces stress several hours after intake in healthy older people.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Human Psychopharmacology, Swinburne University, Melbourne, Australia, Helen.macpherson@deakin.edu.au.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Macpherson
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rowsell
authors.forename: K H M
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scholey
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pipingas
mesh_terms: D000339:Affect / Q000187:drug effects*; D000368:Aged; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008903:Minerals / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D014815:Vitamins / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D008903:Minerals; D014815:Vitamins