It turns out one study shows the supplement can be as effective as SSRIs in treating mild to moderate depression. The FDA hasn't yet rated magnesium as an effective treatment for depression; they need to see more studies before they'll take that step.
The association between magnesium and depression has been observed in several studies. Some studies have found promising effects of magnesium supplementation in the treatment of depression. A 2017 study found that magnesium supplements improved symptoms of depression in adults.
Supplementing with 248–305 mg of magnesium per day has been shown to improve mood in people with depression and low magnesium levels.
Some epidemiological or observational studies reported that greater dietary intake of magnesium is linked to a general reduced risk of depressive disorders or fewer depressive symptoms [50,51].
Magnesium glycinate is often used for its calming effects to treat anxiety, depression, and insomnia.
Case studies of magnesium supplementation reported improvements in depression, anxiety, and sleep within 1 week.
Magnesium blocks the actions of glutamate in the NMDA receptors. If your body is magnesium deficient, it means that few of the NMDA receptors are blocked. This may lead to overexcitation and cell damage. Because of this, it is possible that magnesium may be useful in the treatment and prevention of depression.
Medical research has linked magnesium to reduced anxiety. Magnesium helps you to relax by stimulating the production of melatonin and serotonin which boost your mood and help you sleep. Magnesium also reduces the production of cytokines and cortisol, which lead to increased inflammation and stress.
Research suggests that supplementing with magnesium may help to increase serotonin levels. In fact, low serotonin levels have been observed in patients with a magnesium deficiency. The study that discussed raising serotonin with magnesium reported success.
Excess levels of the primary stress hormone cortisol contribute to anxiety, brain fog, depression, mood swings, memory loss, dementia, concentration problems, insomnia, and mental disorders of all kinds. Magnesium restricts the release of stress hormones and acts as a filter to prevent them from entering the brain.
Other research from 2017, appearing in the journal PLoS One , found that a 6-week course of magnesium chloride led to a significant reduction in depression and anxiety symptoms.
Magnesium deficiency can lead to mental health symptoms like apathy and lack of emotion. In severe cases, it can cause delirium and coma. Studies have shown that magnesium deficiency may be associated with depression and anxiety.
Therefore, magnesium supplements can be taken at any time of the day, as long as you're able to take them consistently. For some, taking supplements first thing in the morning may be easiest, while others may find that taking them with dinner or just before bed works well for them.
Magnesium: Magnesium — found in whole grains, beans, and dark leafy vegetables like spinach — has been shown to have an effect similar to lithium, the most common bipolar medication. Upping your intake of magnesium, a natural mood stabilizer, may decrease your need for medication.
In a mood? Magnesium might help. If you find yourself irritable, stressed or downright depressed, this critical mineral may help you get out of your funk. Studies suggest adequate magnesium intake can calm stress, improve mood and enhance sleep.
Magnesium Deficiency Has Been Linked To
Once I started taking magnesium, I noticed a dramatic improvement in a few of these things: no more muscle spasms and chest pains, the best sleep of my life (more on this tomorrow), less anxiety and irritability, and clearer thoughts.
Magnesium plays two important roles in the brain, which may contribute to these symptoms: It blocks the activity of more stimulating neurotransmitters and binds to calming receptors, resulting in a more peaceful, resting state.
Now, research out of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) shows that magnesium is also absolutely critical for the health of the brain. It can improve short-term and long-term memory and reduce the risk of age-related memory loss.
Research still doesn't fully support taking magnesium for treating anxiety. This means that no minimum or maximum dosage is recommended specifically for anxiety. However, according to a 2017 review , the average doses used in studies ranged between 75 to 360 milligrams (mg) each day.
Magnesium can support how the HPA axis functions, which could improve stress and anxiety responses. Magnesium also supports vital functions of the nervous system, which may lead to improvements in conditions with neurological symptoms, such as depression and anxiety, by supporting neurotransmitter balance.
Notably, magnesium reduces epinephrine and nor- epinephrine synthesis and release, decreases anxiety and could prevent the panic attacks. Magnesium deficiency, even when mild, increases susceptibility to various types of neurologic and psychological stressors in healthy human subjects and diverse groups of patients.
Low serum magnesium has been linked to depressive symptoms. Magnesium effects the Hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis in the brain, which controls the stress response system and therefore, anxiety and depression.
“Magnesium is essential for brain function and acts on NMDA receptors in the brain which help brain development, learning and memory. It also helps with fatigue, tension, anxiety, mood, sleep and healthy functioning of the entire nervous system”.
Magnesium begins to take effect after one week of consistent supplementation.
Nassar says that taking a magnesium supplement every day likely isn't unsafe for most people. Just be sure you're not taking too much magnesium. The maximum dietary allowance for most adults is around 400 mg or less.