The Use of Magnesium in the Treatment of Depression

Magnesium is vital component in the body of a human being. It is essential to ensure its availability in the body as lack of it may lead to various effects. For the body to function normally, magnesium must form part of those ions available. Due to its vital function, the foods we consume should have the component. Insufficiency can result into poor nerve sensitivity a response to muscled based activities. Each and every individual should ensure sufficient availability of magnesium in the body. One of the most vital roles of magnesium is treatment of depression (Tarleton et al., 2017). The paper discusses the significance of magnesium in the human body and various aspects related to its functions in the body and how it can be used in treating depression.

Grober, Schmidt & Kisters, 2015 indicate that there vital functions that magnesium undertakes in a human body. Deficiency of the mineral may lead to serious health complications like depression and other more. Since magnesium is form part of the cofactors of over 300 enzymes found in the human body, it turns out to be a very important regulator of biochemical reactions that take place in the body. According to Sarris et al., 2016 magnesium is used in the process of protein synthesis where it is required for RNA, DNA, and antioxidants processing which reduce depression. It also plays part of muscle functioning where it participates in contraction and relaxation of the muscles (Grober, Schmidt & Kisters, 2015). Through this depression can be avoided allowing an individual to avoid several factors that could make them fall into the effect. Further, it plays acritical role in mood regulation, brain functioning and control of neurotransmitters. In addition to these, it helps in blood sugar metabolism and pressure regulation (Sarris et al., 2016). Through this it enables the body to have vital energy, minerals and vitamins. It also, assists in balancing of hormones and structural development of bones. From these functions one can see the importance of magnesium in the body of a human being.

Hypomagnesemia is the term referred to when one has insufficient magnesium in the body. However, it’s never taken seriously like other medical problem. Some of the symptoms do not appear until the level of magnesium becomes severely low in the body (Chacko et al. 2011). There are common signs that the body can indicate as a form of magnesium deficiency. When muscles twitches and cramps start showing up it’s an indication that there is a greater flow of calcium into nerve cells which hyper-stimulates the muscle nerves. World Health Organization, 2016 indicates that insufficiency leads to depression, anxiety, poor memory and low mood. Additionally, it results in migraines or headaches, fatigues and muscle weakness which is as a result of loss of potassium in the muscle cells (Nechifor, 2009). People with insufficient muscles will experience irregular heartbeat a condition referred to as heart arrhythmia. Besides, it leads osteoporosis due to its importance in the process of crystal formation and bone cells. All the above conditions are some of the symptoms that are likely to be seen in the case an individual has insufficient magnesium in the body (Nechifor, 2009).

Cheungpasitporn et al., 2015 indicates that magnesium has been used for therapeutic activities and supplemental doses to ensure normal functioning of the body. During depression, an individual is given doses reach of magnesium as it enables to normalize the normal functioning of the body which could boost the process of healing (Cheungpasitporn et al., 2015). It enables the individuals under depression to avoid conditions like arrhythmia, preeclampsia, migraine and severe asthma. Through this it improves the health of the depressed and accelerate their healing rates. Other than that, it boosts the individuals with depression to have better sleep, avoid insomnia, chronic stress, acid indigestion, inflammatory conditions and heartburn which are some of the important undertakings when it comes to healing from depression (Tarleton & Littenberg, 2015). According to Tarleton et al., 2017 magnesium can be used in improving the mood of an individual, improve the chronic pains, exercise performance and even depression itself. If an individual is able to avoid all these factors due to magnesium, then he can deal with depression with ease. Yary et al., 2016 indicates that fatigue syndrome that is common in people with depression can be healed using magnesium and also go further to help the heart beat through balancing the blood pressure. All these are some of the functions of magnesium when used under the therapeutical and supplemental doses.

Moreover, magnesium helps reduce blood brain barriers leading to increased concentration due to its support for memory and cognition (Tarleton & Littenberg, 2015). It is important to note that memory loss is one of the factors that affect people with depression and if they get supported, they are likely to heal and function normally (Tarleton & Littenberg, 2015). To ensure this happens in the correct way there are recommended doses that must be taken to heal from various problems. For example, the University of Michigan Health Center indicates that treatment of mild anxiety one should take dose of 600-900 mg a day (Tarleton & Littenberg, 2015). Also, they indicate that one can take a cup of Epsom salts to your bath and soak for 15-20 minutes a day for anxiety to be relieved. Due to the fact that anxiety is one of the symptoms of a depressed person it can be seen that magnesium plays a key role in ensuring that depression is dealt away with in the body (Tarleton & Littenberg, 2015). Therefore, it is important to ensure that as an individual you are engaging in eating a diet that is full of magnesium due to its importance in the body.

Rajizadeh et al. 2017 indicates that when both calcium and magnesium levels in the body rise, they tend to antagonize each other. You will find that in the process of cell cycle regulation, inflammation, absorption, reabsorption and many other psychological functions in the body tend to antagonize each other. When one is in such a condition they may experience increased levels of depression (Tarleton & Littenberg, 2015). Enzymes that are likely to work well when levels of magnesium they will find it difficult to function when calcium also rises. When it comes to its functioning as a cofactor in vitamin D; biosynthesis, transport and activation this process will become difficult to take place with high levels of calcium.

It is important to note that magnesium is an important nutrient in the body and one needs to ensure that he takes foods that are rich of it. People with depression should take more magnesium supplements and foods. It will help them in dealing with symptoms and factors that result in depression.

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References

Tarleton EK, Littenberg B, MacLean CD, Kennedy AG, Daley C 2017. Role of magnesium supplementation in the treatment of depression: A randomized clinical trial. PLoS ONE 12(6)

Tarleton EK, Littenberg B. 2015. Magnesium intake and depression in adults. J Am Board Fam Med. 28(2):249–56. pmid:25748766

Yary T, Lehto SM, Tolmunen T, Tuomainen T-P, Kauhanen J, Voutilainen S, et al., 2016. Dietary magnesium intake and the incidence of depression: a 20-year follow-up study. J Affect Disord. 193:94–8. pmid:26771950

World Health Organization, 2016. Depression fact sheet no. 369 2012

Grober U, Schmidt J, Kisters K., 2015. Magnesium in prevention and therapy. Nutrients. 7(9):8199–226. pmid:26404370; PubMed Central PMCID: PMCPmc4586582.

Cheungpasitporn W, Thongprayoon C, Mao MA, Srivali N, Ungprasert P, Varothai N, et al., 2015. Hypomagnesaemia linked to depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Intern Med J. 45(4):436–40. pmid:25827510.

Rajizadeh A, Mozaffari-Khosravi H, Yassini-Ardakani M, Dehghani A. 2017. Effect of magnesium supplementation on depression status in depressed patients with magnesium deficiency: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Nutrition. 35:56–60.

Sarris J, Murphy J, Mischoulon D, Papakostas GI, Fava M, Berk M, et al, 2016.. Adjunctive nutraceuticals for depression: a systematic review and meta-analyses. Am J Psychiatry. 173(6):575–87.

Nechifor M. 2009. Magnesium in major depression. Magnes Res. 22(3):163s–6s.

Chacko SA, Sul J, Song Y, Li X, LeBlanc J, You Y, et al., 2011. Magnesium supplementation, metabolic and inflammatory markers, and global genomic and proteomic profiling: a randomized, double-blind, controlled, crossover trial in overweight individuals. Am J Clin Nutr. 93(2):463–73.