Magnesium is a mineral that is found in the body and is important for many systems of the body, including the nerves. A form of magnesium, magnesium chloride, is used to treat a lack of magnesium in the body. Magnesium chloride shows promise as a treatment for depression, which is a common medical disorder, according to the American Psychological Association.
Depression
People who are depressed experience sadness or feeling down in the dumps. Other symptoms include a loss of pleasure in activities and being with others, appetite or weight changes, hopelessness, concentration difficulties, indecisiveness, sleeping changes, feeling guilty, and thoughts of suicide or that life is not worth living. Depression is a common mental health disorder. About 17 percent of American adults have depression at some point in their lifetime, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.
Low Levels of Magnesium and Depression
A low level of magnesium in the body is associated with depression, according to an article in a 2008 issue of "Pharmacological Reports." One small study in the January 1993 edition of "Biological Psychiatry" measured magnesium levels of men and women who met diagnostic criteria for depression and had stopped depression treatment for at least seven days. Results indicated that the more depressed a person is, the lower the concentration of magnesium. The authors of the study recommended that more research is needed to confirm that low levels of magnesium are related to depression.
Treating Depression with Magnesium
Some preliminary research has shown that magnesium may help alleviate symptoms of depression. In a 2006 edition of "Medical Hypotheses," an article described results from case histories of people with depression who experienced a quick improvement in symptoms after taking magnesium supplements. The people were given 125 mg to 300 mg of magnesium at each meal and before going to bed. According to the article, the symptoms of depression rapidly decreased within seven days. Although this article reported case studies of improved depression with magnesium, more rigorous research is needed to better determine whether magnesium helps to reduce depression.
Side Effects of Magnesium
Taking an excess amount of magnesium supplements may cause unwanted side effects, according to the National Institutes of Health's Office of Dietary Supplements. Some of these side effects are diarrhea and stomach cramps. People taking laxatives and antacids containing magnesium are advised to take magnesium supplements cautiously, as the risk for magnesium toxicity increases. Symptoms of too much magnesium include cognitive difficulties, nausea, loss of appetite, feeling weak, breathing difficulties and an abnormal heartbeat. There are no recommended amounts of magnesium to help treat depression at this time; however, the Office of Dietary Supplements recommends that adults take no more than 350 mg of magnesium per day for general health.
References
- "Biological Psychiatry---The Interface between Thyroid Activity, Magnesium and Depression: A Pilot Study"; Gary Hasey, M.D., Enzo D'Alessandro, M.D., Robert Cooke, M.D., and Jerry Warsh, M.D., Ph.D.; January 1993
- "Depression"; American Psychological Association
- "Magnesium"; National Institutes of Health's Office of Dietary Supplements
- "Major Depressive Disorder Among Adults"; National Institute of Mental Health
- "Medical Hypotheses"; Rapid Recovery from Major Depression Using Magnesium Treatment; George Eby, and Karen Eby; 2006
- "Pharmacological Reports"; Antidepressant Activity of Zinc and Magnesium in View of the Current Hypotheses of Antidepressant Action; Bernadeta Szewczyk, Ph.D., Ewa Poleszak, Ph.D., Magdalena Sowa-Kucma, Ph.D., Marcin Siwek, Dominika Dudek, M.D., Beata Ryszewska-Pokraoeniewicz, M.D., Maria Radziwoñ-Zaleska, M.D., Wlodzimierz Opoka, Ph.D., Janusz Czekaj, M.D., Andrzej Pilc, M.D., and Gabriel Nowak, Pharm.D., Ph.D., 2008
