Roger-Luc Chayer
We generally avoid reporting studies of certain natural products in this magazine because often, unfortunately, they are produced or published by groups with an interest in talking about results that are sometimes drunk watered down. Exceptionally this time, we believe that readers have interest in knowing the results of a new research on magnesium that could meet many needs.
Published by the very serious US National Library of Medicine, a division of the United States Government Department of Health and Human Services, this latest study of magnesium, a mineral supplement available over the counter, demonstrates that Very precise doses, it could be as effective as many antidepressants against depression and anxiety, without their overwhelming and frequent side effects.
The purpose of this research was to clearly determine the link between magnesium absorption and its effects on moderate to moderate depressive states while examining possible side effects. It is therefore on a randomization of 126 patients diagnosed with mild to moderate depression that the study was carried out, for a period of 6 weeks, for half with a dose of 248 mg of elemental magnesium per day (corresponding to 4 X 500mg of magnesium chrolide per day) while the other half received nothing at the beginning and magnesium was added only later, during the control period. In all cases, the results of magnesium intake were equal to or greater than antidepressants for both depression and anxiety.
The first and most convincing result was the symptoms of depression from the beginning of treatment to the end of the study period. In all cases, patients experienced an improvement after two weeks of treatment and these benefits lasted until the last week of treatment corresponding to the end of the study. The second most significant result was the effect of the supplement on anxiety, retention and side effects.
Of the 126 patients, 112 produced analysable results that were included in the study findings. The consumption of magnesium for 6 weeks produced very significant clinical results on generalized anxiety of the order of 83%. The product was better tolerated than antidepressants and 61% of patients wanted to continue treatment at the end of the study. The same beneficial effects were observed in all participants regardless of age, gender, severity of depression, blood level of magnesium, or concomitant use of antidepressants. All beneficial effects were observed after 2 weeks of treatment. The treatment was very well tolerated in adults, producing stable results and without the need for special medical monitoring.
As for medium- and long-term effectiveness, the study was not able to answer this question, but the researchers recommend launching a new, larger research that would answer these questions. Finally, the study concludes that the results are similar for everyone and that the effect of magnesium is not affected by food, alcohol consumption or smoking.