Selenium Supplementation for Improving Depression in Children and Adolescents: Efficacy and Mechanistic Study

NCT ID: NCT07203144

Last Updated: 2025-12-29

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

PHASE2

Total Enrollment

172 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-12-31

Study Completion Date

2027-04-01

Brief Summary

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The purpose of this study is to investigate the role and mechanisms of selenium in depression among children and adolescents, aiming to provide new insights for understanding the pathogenesis and treatment of depression in this population.

Detailed Description

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This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial will evaluate the efficacy and safety of selenium supplementation (selenium yeast) combined with fluoxetine in children and adolescents with major depressive disorder (MDD). Eligible participants are aged \[specific age range if applicable\], meet DSM-5 criteria for a current depressive episode, and have a CDRS-R score ≥40 confirmed by trained psychiatrists. A total of \[planned sample size\] participants will be randomized 1:1 to receive either fluoxetine plus selenium yeast or fluoxetine plus placebo. Selenium yeast will be administered at 60-200 μg/day. Fluoxetine will begin at 10 mg/day and may be adjusted by the treating psychiatrist within a range of 20-60 mg/day. The placebo consists of commercially available yeast tablets identical in appearance, taste, and size to selenium yeast, administered at 60-200 μg/day. Biological samples (blood, urine, stool) will be collected for routine laboratory tests, thyroid, liver, and kidney function, and serum will be analyzed for selenium and ferroptosis-related biomarkers. Brain MRI will also be performed. These assessments will be repeated at weeks 4 and 8 of treatment, together with rating scale evaluations and biospecimen collection. The primary outcome is the change in depressive symptoms, measured by the CDRS-R and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Secondary outcomes include anxiety symptoms (SCARED, HAMA), overall clinical improvement (CGI-S, CGI-I), manic symptoms (YMRS), suicide risk (C-SSRS), quality of life (PedsQL 4.0), sleep quality (PSQI), and rumination (RSS). Safety will be monitored through adverse events, vital signs, laboratory tests, and tolerability assessments. This study will provide preliminary evidence on the adjunctive role of selenium supplementation in fluoxetine treatment for adolescent depression and inform future large-scale trials.

Conditions

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Depression - Major Depressive Disorder

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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Fluoxetine combined with selenium yeast therapy

In this group, participants will receive standard fluoxetine treatment along with adjunctive selenium yeast supplementation at a daily dose of 60-200 μg, aiming to investigate the role and mechanisms of selenium yeast in fluoxetine therapy.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

selenium yeast supplementation

Intervention Type DRUG

In this intervention, patients will receive adjunctive selenium yeast supplementation at a daily dose of 60-200 μg in addition to fluoxetine. Symptom rating scales, biospecimen collection, and brain MRI will be conducted at baseline, week 4, and week 8 to investigate the adjunctive role of selenium in fluoxetine treatment for depression.

Fluoxetine combined with placebo therapy

Participants in this group, in addition to receiving conventional fluoxetine treatment, were administered 60-200 µg per day of a placebo identical in appearance and odor to selenium yeast as adjunctive therapy. The aim was to investigate the role of selenium yeast in fluoxetine treatment and to clarify whether it enhances the therapeutic effect.

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Placebo yeast supplementation

Intervention Type DRUG

In this intervention, patients will receive standard fluoxetine treatment combined with placebo yeast supplementation (60-200 μg/day), which is identical in appearance and odor to selenium yeast. The aim is to clarify the specific role of selenium in the treatment of depression.

Interventions

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selenium yeast supplementation

In this intervention, patients will receive adjunctive selenium yeast supplementation at a daily dose of 60-200 μg in addition to fluoxetine. Symptom rating scales, biospecimen collection, and brain MRI will be conducted at baseline, week 4, and week 8 to investigate the adjunctive role of selenium in fluoxetine treatment for depression.

Intervention Type DRUG

Placebo yeast supplementation

In this intervention, patients will receive standard fluoxetine treatment combined with placebo yeast supplementation (60-200 μg/day), which is identical in appearance and odor to selenium yeast. The aim is to clarify the specific role of selenium in the treatment of depression.

Intervention Type DRUG

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Aged 12-18 years;
* Diagnosed with major depressive disorder according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), using the K-SADS-PL diagnostic tool;
* A score of ≥28 on the Children's Depression Rating Scale-Revised (CDRS-R);
* Adequate visual and auditory abilities to complete the study;
* Willingness to participate in the study with informed consent signed by both the participant and a legal guardian.

Exclusion Criteria

* Patients with severe psychiatric disorders such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, bulimia nervosa, anorexia nervosa, or primary obsessive-compulsive disorder;
* Those with severe physical illnesses or other life-threatening conditions; patients in a current depressive episode with a clear suicidal plan or history of suicide attempt;
* Individuals with a history of substance or drug abuse;
* Those requiring immediate hospitalization for psychiatric disorders;
* Patients currently taking medications contraindicated with the investigational drug or that may interfere with its efficacy;
* Those who have received modified electroconvulsive therapy (MECT) within the past 12 months;
* Individuals allergic to selenium yeast protein, including those with allergic rhinitis, gastrointestinal sensitivity, allergic constitution, or autoimmune diseases such as Graves' disease or Hashimoto's thyroiditis;
* Patients with contraindications to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI);
* Aand left-handed individuals.
Minimum Eligible Age

12 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Xinyu Zhou

professor

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

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The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University

Chongqing, Chongqing Municipality, China

Site Status

Countries

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China

Central Contacts

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Zhou Xinyu

Role: CONTACT

Phone: 15823996993

Email: [email protected]

Facility Contacts

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Zhou Xinyu

Role: primary

References

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Other Identifiers

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1stChongqingMU---ZXY

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id