Clinical trial NCT06247579: Effects of Dietary Polystyrene Microplastics on Anxiety- and Depression-like Behaviors
Official title: Effects of Dietary Polystyrene Microplastics From Disposable Plastic Tableware on Anxiety- and Depression-like Behaviors
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Depression, Anxiety
Keywords: Gut microbiome
Anxiety
Depression
Polystyrene microplastics
Lead sponsor: Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2024-02-08
Enrollment: 15
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 20
Maximum age (years): 30
Standard ages: ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: yes
Allocation: NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Intervention model description: The exposure group will use disposable plastic tableware (DPT) made of polystyrene, provided by the hospital canteens for two months
Primary purpose: BASIC_SCIENCE

Brief summary: The objective of this clinical trial is to explore the potential impact of dietary polystyrene microplastics on anxiety- and depression-like behaviors in resident physicians. Specifically, the study aims to address two key questions:

1. Can dietary polystyrene microplastics induce alterations in the human gut microbiome?
2. Can dietary polystyrene microplastics exacerbate anxiety- and depression-like behaviors?

Participants will be divided into two groups based on their habitual eating practices: The control group, consisting of resident physicians, will use non-disposable plastic tableware (NDPT) provided by hospital canteens for two months. In contrast, the exposure group, also comprising resident physicians, will use disposable plastic tableware (DPT) made of polystyrene, provided by the same hospital canteens, over the same period.

Detailed description: The mental health and well-being of resident physicians is a critical topic that has gained increasing attention recently. Recent studies have shown a growing prevalence of mental health illnesses worldwide. For medical trainees and resident physicians, high rates of depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and burnout have been consistently observed. Moreover, contemporary research suggests that dietary exposure plays a pivotal role in the development of mental illnesses. Disposable plastic tableware, commonly used during resident training programs, could be a contributing factor. However, the specific effects of dietary exposure from such tableware on mental health, particularly through the gut-brain axis, remain largely unexplored. Consequently, investigating the potential impact of dietary polystyrene microplastics on anxiety- and depression-like behaviors in resident physicians is essential.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Volunteer resident physician at the base of Northern Jiangsu Hospital, Yangzhou, China

Exclusion Criteria:

* received chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or surgery in the 3 -6 months before sampling
* diagnosed with mental illness
* diagnosed with digestive system diseases

Primary outcomes:
measure: Assessing mental status using the depression anxiety stress scales-21 (DASS-21) questionnaire
timeFrame: At the baseline and end of this clinical trial an average of two months. the enrolled participants will be asked to complete the DASS-21 questionnaire.
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Alterations in human gut microbial diversity investigated through 16S rRNA
timeFrame: At the beginning and conclusion of this clinical trial, spanning an average duration of two months, the enrolled participants will be asked to provide fecal samples
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Yangzhou
country: China
facility: Ju Gao
state: Jiangsu
Study officials:
References: