Role of magnesium supplementation in the treatment of depression: A randomized clinical trial
"Depression affects 350 million people worldwide and is predicted to be the leading cause of disease burden by 2030, based on disability-adjusted-life-year."
"Role of magnesium supplementation in the treatment of depression: A randomized clinical trial" source
"Initial antidepressant trials of adequate dose and duration result in only about 50% of patients achieving remission. Even after the addition of other treatments, 20% still suffer from symptoms after 2 years. Non-pharmacologic approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and lifestyle interventions require highly trained therapists and several weeks to months to achieve effectiveness. There is a great need for additional treatment options.
The association between magnesium intake and depression is well documented. Improvement in depression with magnesium supplementation has been reported inconsistently, although few clinical trials exist. One trial found magnesium chloride to be effective for depression in seniors with type 2 diabetes while another trial found magnesium citrate decreased depression in patients with fibromyalgia. One negative trial used magnesium oxide, known to be poorly absorbed.
The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that 6 weeks of oral magnesium chloride (MgCl2) supplementation will improve symptoms of mild-to-moderate depression in a primary care population."
"Role of magnesium supplementation in the treatment of depression: A randomized clinical trial" source, read more