Assessing and Treating Magnesium Deficiency for Improved Mental Health

Magnesium deficiency can cause a range of symptoms including mental health problems like depression, anxiety, and ADHD. This page provides information about assessing and treating magnesium deficiency --- a problem that is under-recognised in the mental health field.

Assessing Magnesium Status

Assessing magnesium status is difficult and presently there is no perfect measure. Some of the assessment options are outlined below:

Serum magnesium

Although serum magnesium is the most commonly used specimen, serum levels are not a sensitive measure of magnesium status.  This is because only 0.3% of total-body magnesium is found in serum, and is tightly regulated by many factors, including parathyroid hormone.

Red blood cell (RBC) magnesium

A better index of whole-body magnesium status is the concentration of magnesium inside cells. Because red blood cells contain appreciable amounts of magnesium, they may be better indicators of magnesium status.

Hair analysis

Hair magnesium levels can be a useful indicator of long-term magnesium status, however, interpretation can be difficult. While low levels of hair magnesium may indicate low body stores, high levels can also be indicative of low body stores.

Clinical trial

Because of the difficulties in accurately assessing magnesium status and the high safety profile of magnesium supplementation (unless someone is suffering from renal problems) a trial of magnesium supplementation for one to three months it often recommended. Alleviation of symptoms after this period may provide the most reliable indicator of magnesium deficiency.

Studies in Treating Magnesium Deficiency and Mental Health

Research in the area of anxiety and magnesium, depression and magnesium and other mental health problems such as ADHD and bipolar disorder is accumulating. Although further research is required studies to date do show that magnesium deficiency can adversely affect mental health and treating magnesium deficiency through supplementation can be a good option for some sufferers. Below are summaries of just a few studies in this area.

1. Eby & Eby provided four case studies of patients suffering from depression and anxiety treated with magnesium supplementation. They were given varying doses of magnesium (600mg to 900mg a day) to take with meals and at bedtime. Rapid improvements in depression and anxiety within days of supplementation were reported in all four cases.

2. Researchers compared the antimanic effects of a verapamil–magnesium oxide combination with a verapamil–placebo combination in patients pretreated with verapamil. The verapamil-magnesium oxide combination was found to be significantly more effective than verapamil-placebo combination in reducing manic symptoms.

3. Magnesium levels were assessed in 40 children with clinical symptoms of ADHD. Subjects were then given magnesium-vitamin B6 over a 2 month period. Levels of magnesium were found to be significantly lower than a control group, and in almost all cases, clinical symptoms improved, namely hyperactivity and hypermotivity/ aggressiveness, and school attention. When magnesium-B6 treatment was ceased, clinical symptoms reappeared within a few weeks, as did magnesium values.

References

1.        Eby, G.A., & Eby, K.L. (2006) Rapid recovery from major depression. Medical Hypothesis, 67(2):362-70

2.        Giannini, A (2000) Magnesium oxide augmentation of verapamil maintenance therapy in mania. Psychiatry Research, 93(1): 83-87.

3.        Mousain-Bosc M, Roche M, Polge A, Pradal-Prat D, Rapin J, Bali JP. (2006) Improvement of neurobehavioral disorders in children supplemented with magnesium-vitamin B6. I. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorders. Magnesium Research, 19(1):46-52.

Although further studies in the area of magnesium and mental health is required, the research studies reviewed (plus many more) do demonstrate a relationship between magnesium deficiency and mental health conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, ADHD and schizophrenia.

Given the high safety profile of magnesium supplementation, it may pose a viable treatment option for many people. Increased magnesium stores can occur by consuming more magnesium-rich foods and supplementation. Taking 400-800mg of magnesium per day for 2-3 months is recommended (take in multiple doses as it can cause loose stools) as for treating magnesium deficiency. Avoid magnesium oxide as it is not absorbed very well.

Magnesium oil (transdermal magnesium oil), rubbed into the skin is also another great way to increase magnesium stores, without affecting the stomach. So if you suspect you are suffering from a deficiency in magnesium and suffer from anxiety, depression, ADHD or other mental health problem, it may be worth a try. However, if you are taking any medications, be sure to discuss it with your doctor first.

For information about the depression, anxiety and magnesium and signs of magnesium deficiency, click here 

Click here if you would like more information about arranging an appointment to see Adrian Lopresti