Effects of Dietary Polystyrene Microplastics on Anxiety- and Depression-like Behaviors

Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital

Status: Completed

Conditions: Depression, Anxiety

Treatments: Other: Dietary polystyrene microplastics from disposable plastic tableware

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06247579

Dietary

Details and patient eligibility

About

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.

Full 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.

Enrollment: 15 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 20 to 30 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

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

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Non-Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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15 participants in 2 patient groups

The control group

No Intervention group

Description:

The control group, consisting of resident physicians, will use non-disposable plastic tableware (NDPT) provided by hospital canteens for two months.

The exposure group

Experimental group

Description:

The exposure group, also comprising resident physicians, will use disposable plastic tableware (DPT) made of polystyrene, provided by the same hospital canteens for two months

Treatment:

Other: Dietary polystyrene microplastics from disposable plastic tableware