But for many of us depression is due to a secondary cause — magnesium deficiency. Magnesium deficiency is very common in the general population. In fact, it is thought that most people in the general population probably have a magnesium deficiency. And not only do IBDs deplete magnesium (because of the malabsorption problems that they cause), but many medications (such as corticosteroids and antibiotics) frequently used by IBD patients (including MC patients) significantly deplete magnesium. Furthermore, stress depletes magnesium. Few diseases are more stressful than an IBD. So it's very, very likely that most IBD patients will be magnesium deficient.
And guess what? Magnesium deficiency commonly causes depression (among many other problems).
The red emphasis is mine. Note that the first sentence in red confirms my claim that the blood tests are worthless for determining magnesium levels. Here's a link to the medical reference for that quote:Magnesium is one of the most essential mineral in the human body, connected with brain biochemistry and the fluidity of neuronal membrane. A variety of neuromuscular and psychiatric symptoms, including different types of depression, was observed in magnesium deficiency. Plasma/serum magnesium levels do not seem to be the appropriate indicators of depressive disorders, since ambiguous outcomes, depending on the study, were obtained. The emergence of a new approach to magnesium compounds in medical practice has been seen. Apart from being administered as components of dietary supplements, they are also perceived as the effective agents in treatment of migraine, alcoholism, asthma, heart diseases, arrhythmias, renal calcium stones, premenstrual tension syndrome etc. Magnesium preparations have an essential place in homeopathy as a remedy for a range of mental health problems. Mechanisms of antidepressant action of magnesium are not fully understood yet. Most probably, magnesium influences several systems associated with development of depression. The first information on the beneficial effect of magnesium sulfate given hypodermically to patients with agitated depression was published almost 100 years ago. Numerous pre-clinical and clinical studies confirmed the initial observations as well as demonstrated the beneficial safety profile of magnesium supplementation. Thus, magnesium preparations seem to be a valuable addition to the pharmacological armamentarium for management of depression.
Magnesium in depression.
So my general recommendation to anyone who is either taking an antidepressant or feels that one would be helpful:
You are almost certainly magnesium deficient. Before you consider taking an antidepressant, please increase your magnesium intake and your depression may be resolved. And if you are already taking an antidepressant, please increase your magnesium intake so that you can wean off the antidepressant you are taking.
If you need more convincing, consider these case studies from the Psychology Today article at the following link:
Magnesium and the Brain: The Original Chill PillA 59 y/o "hypomanic-depressive male", with a long history of treatable mild depression, developed anxiety, suicidal thoughts, and insomnia after a year of extreme personal stress and bad diet ("fast food"). Lithium and a number of antidepressants did nothing for him. 300mg magnesium glycinate (and later taurinate) was given with every meal. His sleep was immediately restored, and his anxiety and depression were greatly reduced, though he sometimes needed to wake up in the middle of the night to take a magnesium pill to keep his "feeling of wellness." A 500mg calcium pill would cause depression within one hour, extinguished by the ingestion of 400mg magnesium.
A 23 year-old woman with a previous traumatic brain injury became depressed after extreme stress with work, a diet of fast food, "constant noise," and poor academic performance. After one week of magnesium treatment, she became free of depression, and her short term memory and IQ returned.
A 35 year-old woman with a history of post-partum depression was pregnant with her fourth child. She took 200mg magnesium glycinate with each meal. She did not develop any complications of pregnancy and did not have depression with her fourth child, who was "healthy, full weight, and quiet."
A 40 year-old "irritable, anxious, extremely talkative, moderately depressed" smoking, alchohol-drinking, cocaine using male took 125mg magnesium taurinate at each meal and bedtime, and found his symptoms were gone within a week, and his cravings for tobacco, cocaine, and alcohol disappeared. His "ravenous appetite was supressed, and ... beneficial weight loss ensued."
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