Magnesium works against depression

Christiane Fux studied journalism and psychology in Hamburg. The experienced medical editor has been writing magazine articles, news and factual texts on all conceivable health topics since 2001. In addition to her work for, Christiane Fux is also active in prose. Her first crime novel was published in 2012, and she also writes, designs and publishes her own crime plays.

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People often try to get a grip on depression with medication. But they often have side effects - and they don't work for everyone. Now it is clear that simple magnesium tablets could help many patients.

Magnesium is freely available and popular as a dietary supplement. The tablets are particularly popular with muscle problems.

Although the relationship between magnesium intake and depression has been scientifically well documented, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. After all, it is known that magnesium plays a key role in the regulation of messenger substances that influence mood.

But the mineral is not only important for muscle function, it also influences the heart rhythm, bone structure - and it plays a central role in inflammatory processes in the body. These, in turn, can also have a negative impact on mental health and promote depression.

Six-week magnesium cure

Emily Tarleton and colleagues from the University of Vermont have investigated whether magnesium can relieve pre-existing depression. To this end, they recruited 126 patients with an average age of 52 years who suffered from mild to moderate depression.

Half of them were given 248 milligrams of magnesium daily over a period of six weeks. The second group was initially not treated. She then received magnesium for six weeks while the first stopped her regimen. The researchers used a weekly questionnaire to check how the participants' depressive symptoms developed.

As effective as an antidepressant

In 112 participants, the magnesium tablets developed a positive effect on the depressive and anxiety symptoms. The effect even roughly corresponded to that of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), the most modern and most frequently prescribed antidepressant drugs. The food supplements were tolerated well by all participants.

The effect was even particularly quick. Symptoms improved noticeably after just two weeks - this often takes longer with antidepressant medication.

The scientists have not investigated whether the magnesium cure had a particularly strong effect on patients with previously low magnesium levels.

New therapy options urgently needed

"The results are very encouraging, especially given that we urgently need more treatment options for people with depression," says Tarleton. In some of the depressed patients, the common antidepressants do not work sufficiently. This also applies to psychotherapy, which usually also helps with depression.

In addition, there are patients who shy away from taking antidepressants or psychotherapy because both are associated with stigmatization. Magnesium tablets are not. Magnesium could possibly also help many people in countries with less health care, for whom psychotherapy and antidepressants are out of reach.

Unclear effect in severe depression

However, even larger studies with more participants over a longer period of time would be necessary to correctly classify the potential of magnesium for treating depression. The study does not provide any information as to whether magnesium could also help people with severe depression.

Do not discontinue medication on your own

Patients who take antidepressants should not replace them with magnesium on their own, but should definitely clarify such a measure with their doctor. Otherwise there is a risk of a severe relapse into depression.

A combination of magnesium and antidepressants might also make sense - at least if those affected have low magnesium levels. Previous studies have already shown that the drugs work better in patients with an adequate supply of magnesium.

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