The Relationship between the Concentration of Magnesium and the Presence of Depressive Symptoms and Selected Metabolic Disorders among Men over 50 Years of Age.

Iwona Rotter,Adrian Wiatrak,Olimpia Sipak-Szmigiel,Natalia Tomska,Aleksandra Rył,Katarzyna Kotfis,Magdalena Ptak,Aleksandra Szylińska

doi:10.3390/life11030196

Iwona Rotter, Adrian Wiatrak + Show 6 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/life11030196

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Abstract

Background: changes in the concentration of magnesium influence numerous processes in the body, such as hormone and lipid metabolism, nerve conduction, a number of biochemical pathways in the brain, and metabolic cycles. As a result, changes in magnesium concentration may contribute to the emergence of such pathologies as depressive and metabolic disorders, including hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia. Methods: blood samples were taken from 342 men whose mean age was 61.66 ± 6.38 years. The concentrations of magnesium, lipid parameters, and glucose were determined using the spectrophotometric method. Anthropometric measurements were performed to determine each participant’s body mass index (BMI). Additionally, all participants completed two questionnaires: the Beck Depression Inventory and the author’s questionnaire. Results: abnormal levels of magnesium were found in 78 people. The analysis showed that these subjects more often suffered from metabolic disorders such as diabetes mellitus (p < 0.001), hypertension (p < 0.001), and depressive symptoms (p = 0.002) than participants with normal magnesium levels. Conclusion: our research showed that there is a relationship between abnormal levels of magnesium and the presence of self-reported conditions, such as diabetes, hypertension, and depressive symptoms among aging men. These findings may contribute to the improvement of the diagnosis and treatment of patients with these conditions.

Highlights

Depressiveness is the occurrence of single symptoms, such as deterioration in mood; decreased energy and motivation; lowered quality of sleep; decreased libido, appetite, and self-esteem; anxiety without a specific cause; and cognitive and concentration disorders
It is estimated that as many as 16.5% of people over 50 years of age suffer from depressive disorders in Western countries, and some other studies have shown that the risk of depressive episodes increases with age [2,3]
Damage to DNA and the cytoskeleton of the nerve cell is associated with greater activity of the GABA-aminergic system and stimulation of NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) and AMPA (α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid) receptors, which results in greater Ca2+ transport

Summary

Introduction

Depressiveness is the occurrence of single symptoms, such as deterioration in mood; decreased energy and motivation; lowered quality of sleep; decreased libido, appetite, and self-esteem; anxiety without a specific cause; and cognitive and concentration disorders. One of the most important, which influences a number of biochemical pathways, is magnesium It acts as a blocker in the NMDA receptor, stopping the transport of Ca2+ ions and, at the same time, inhibiting the increased glutamatergic stimulation, which results in an environment characterized by high excitotoxicity. This environment, in turn, causes oxidative stress and, the degeneration and death of nerve cells [7]. Meta-analyses examining the effect of low serum magnesium concentration on higher incidences of depression showed a potential correlation, but these conclusions were made with some caution [9,10] On the other hand, a meta-analysis of magnesium supplementation did not show any evidence of association with depressive disorders [11]

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