Pinpointing a treatment to alleviate depression can be difficult. As you weigh all the options, here’s new research to consider: a study published in PLoS One found magnesium may help reduce the symptoms of depression. The open-label, crossover study included 126 adults diagnosed with and currently experiencing symptoms of mild-to-moderate depression, indicated by a score of 5 to 19 on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)—a standardized test measuring depression symptoms. During the two months prior to the study, the participants had no change in treatment for their depression; this included stable use of antidepressants, non-drug therapies, or no treatment.
For six weeks, the participants were randomly assigned to take four 500 mg tablets of magnesium chloride (providing a total of 248 mg of elemental magnesium) daily or no additional treatment. Then, for the next six weeks, they swapped: those who were not taking magnesium began taking it and vice versa. Over the twelve-week study, researchers assessed the participants for depressive symptoms via bi-weekly phone calls. They found that, regardless of age, gender, depression severity at the start of the study, or use of antidepressants or other therapies, after 6 weeks of magnesium supplementation:
Not only did magnesium appear to reduce depressive symptoms, its effects were evident within two weeks, and it was well tolerated by the participants, suggesting that magnesium could be a good alternative or adjunct treatment for depression. But, before you stock up, keep in mind that this study did not include a placebo group, so we can’t say for sure whether the observed benefits were due to magnesium or a placebo effect. Nevertheless, because of magnesium’s long history of safe use, low cost, and beneficial effects in numerous health conditions, it may be worth a try. If you’re interested in trying magnesium for depression, talk with your psychiatrist or doctor first to be sure it’s a good choice for you.
Source: PLoS One
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