Could a common mineral ease teen depression? new trial investigates

NCT ID NCT07203144

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This Phase 2 trial will test whether adding selenium supplements to standard antidepressant medication (fluoxetine) can improve depression symptoms in 172 children and adolescents aged 12-18 with major depressive disorder. Participants will receive either selenium or a placebo for 8 weeks, and researchers will track changes in depression scores, brain scans, and biological samples. The goal is to see if selenium can safely boost treatment outcomes in young people.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance
selenium yeast supplementation
What this could lead to
If it works, this could point toward a simple, safe supplement to boost the effectiveness of standard depression treatment in young people.
What could go wrong
This is a small, early-stage trial with only 172 participants. Selenium may not provide any additional benefit over standard treatment, and results may not apply to all young people with depression.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University

    Chongqing, Chongqing Municipality, 40000, China

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