Clinical Trial of a Nutritional Supplement in Adults With Bipolar Disorder

NCT ID: NCT00109577

Last Updated: 2012-09-18

Study Results

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Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

TERMINATED

Clinical Phase

PHASE2

Total Enrollment

40 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2005-04-30

Study Completion Date

2009-03-31

Brief Summary

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The purpose of the trial was to determine whether a 36-ingredient micronutrient supplement (primarily vitamins and minerals) is beneficial for the treatment of bipolar disorder, when studied under randomized and fully blinded conditions and compared to a placebo. The supplement is referred to as MCN36, because it contains 36 nutrients. Based on the preliminary research on this supplement, it is hypothesized that patients who take MCN36 for 8 weeks will experience improved mood stability relative to those who take the placebo. All participants must live EITHER in the vicinity of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, OR in the area of San Diego, California.

Detailed Description

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This RCT (randomized clinical trial) compared MCN36 to placebo in patients randomized to receive one or the other for 8 weeks. Close medical supervision was provided with weekly appointments. At the end of the 8 weeks, all participants were offered the opportunity of entering an 8-week open-label extension.

The efficacy objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of MCN36 compared with placebo in otherwise medication-free adults with bipolar disorder I and II, in improving overall symptomatology at the end of 8 weeks of therapy as assessed under randomized and fully blinded conditions

* as measured by the clinician using the Overall Bipolarity Index (OBI) (primary outcome measure).
* as measured by the clinician using the Clinical Global Impressions for Bipolar Disorder (CGI-BP) for Severity.
* as measured by self-report recorded on the Outcome Questionnaire (OQ).
* in terms of rate of response, with response defined as a reduction of 50% or more in either the depression or the mood elevation component of the OBI.
* in terms of functional states and health-related quality of life as measured by The Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36).

The safety-related objective was to assess the safety of MCN36 compared with placebo in terms of

* laboratory analyses
* treatment-emergent adverse events, which will be solicited at each appointment using the Adverse Event Log.

Participants had two appointments for screening and confirming suitability for the trial. Between those two appointments, they provided a blood sample, and met with a research nurse. They also kept a 7-day food record of their food intake prior to the second appointment. If suitability was confirmed at the second visit, they entered the randomized phase.

Conditions

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Bipolar Disorder

Keywords

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bipolar disorder mood disorders manic depression nutrition

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

QUADRUPLE

Participants Caregivers Investigators Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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2

Placebo comparator, 6 placebo capsules three times a day

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Placebo

Intervention Type DRUG

nutritional supplement

1

nutritional supplement intervention, 6 nutritional supplement capsules three times a day; the nutritional supplement is a 36-ingredient micronutrient supplement (primarily vitamins and minerals) and is referred to as MCN36, because it contains 36 nutrients.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

MCN36 (nutritional supplement)

Intervention Type DRUG

nutritional supplement

Interventions

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MCN36 (nutritional supplement)

nutritional supplement

Intervention Type DRUG

Placebo

nutritional supplement

Intervention Type DRUG

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Must meet the criteria for bipolar disorder I or II as defined in DSM-IV-TR based on clinical assessment and confirmed by structured diagnostic interview (SCID-P).
* Must be symptomatic on the Hamilton Depression Scale and the Young Mania Rating Scale
* Must be free of medications or herbal/nutritional supplements with primarily central nervous system activity
* Must be able to eat at least a snack three times per day, so that the capsules will not be ingested on an empty stomach

Exclusion Criteria

* Current or lifetime diagnosis of any of the following according to DSM-IV-TR criteria: Schizophrenia, Schizophreniform Disorder, Schizoaffective Disorder, Delusional Disorder, Psychotic Disorder Not Otherwise Specified, Delirium of any type, Dementia of any type, Amnestic Disorder, unless there is substantive reason to believe the patient was misdiagnosed.
* Alcohol dependence or abuse in the previous six months.
* Dependence or abuse of substances other than alcohol in the previous two years.
* Any Psychotic Disorder due to a General Medical Condition in the previous two years
* Hospitalization for treatment of a mental disorder within the previous 6 months.
* Current use of any other medication or herbal/nutritional supplement with primarily central nervous system activity.
* Neurological disorder involving brain or other central function.
* Severe headaches of any type (including migraine) within the previous 3 months.
* Unstable illnesses either with active significant symptoms or requiring medication changes within the previous 4 months.
* Abnormal laboratory values detected at screening, in particular an ALT or AST greater than 2 times the upper limit of normal, or creatinine greater than 1.75 times the upper limit of normal.
* Uncorrected or unstable hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism in the previous 12 months.
* Medically diagnosed Irritable Bowel Syndrome, or any other chronic gastrointestinal problem, within the previous 3 years.
* Current or lifetime metabolic disorder or problem, such as phenylketonuria or Wilson's disease.
* A course of treatment with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) within the previous 12 months, or a lifetime history of four or more courses of ECT.
* Current bacterial, viral, fungal, parasite or other infection.
* Women who are pregnant or breast-feeding; women of childbearing potential who are not using a medically accepted means of contraception when engaging in sexual intercourse.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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Alberta Innovation and Science

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

University of Calgary

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Bonnie Kaplan

Professor

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Bonnie J Kaplan, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Calgary

Locations

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Dr Estelle Goldstein

San Diego, California, United States

Site Status

University of Calgary Faculty of Medicine

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Site Status

Countries

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United States Canada

References

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Kaplan BJ, Simpson JS, Ferre RC, Gorman CP, McMullen DM, Crawford SG. Effective mood stabilization with a chelated mineral supplement: an open-label trial in bipolar disorder. J Clin Psychiatry. 2001 Dec;62(12):936-44. doi: 10.4088/jcp.v62n1204.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 11780873 (View on PubMed)

Kaplan BJ, Fisher JE, Crawford SG, Field CJ, Kolb B. Improved mood and behavior during treatment with a mineral-vitamin supplement: an open-label case series of children. J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol. 2004 Spring;14(1):115-22. doi: 10.1089/104454604773840553.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 15142398 (View on PubMed)

Kaplan BJ, Crawford SG, Gardner B, Farrelly G. Treatment of mood lability and explosive rage with minerals and vitamins: two case studies in children. J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol. 2002 Fall;12(3):205-19. doi: 10.1089/104454602760386897.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 12427294 (View on PubMed)

Popper CW. Do vitamins or minerals (apart from lithium) have mood-stabilizing effects? J Clin Psychiatry. 2001 Dec;62(12):933-5. doi: 10.4088/jcp.v62n1203. No abstract available.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 11780872 (View on PubMed)

Simmons M. Nutritional approach to bipolar disorder. J Clin Psychiatry. 2003 Mar;64(3):338; author reply 338-9. doi: 10.4088/jcp.v64n0317d. No abstract available.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 12716280 (View on PubMed)

Kaplan BJ, Crawford SG, Field CJ, Simpson JS. Vitamins, minerals, and mood. Psychol Bull. 2007 Sep;133(5):747-60. doi: 10.1037/0033-2909.133.5.747.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 17723028 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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AIS99-03A (01406-005-23)

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: secondary_id

18229

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id