Role of magnesium supplementation in the treatment of depression: A randomized clinical trial – an article from Plos One.
Although this journal article does not specifically address magnesium’s role in cancer, I would be remiss if I did not include this article in the May issue.
According to the World Health Organization, 350 million people worldwide suffer from depression, and depression is a leading cause of disability. Many, if not most patients suffering from cancer, experience anxiety and depression. Unfortunately, many of the commonly used antidepressants are often not effective for individuals, and there is even a risk that these drugs can worsen depression, and even cause suicidal ideation.
What is particularly exciting about this study is that magnesium was effective in improving scores in patients who were already using pharmacologic antidepressants. It would be interesting to see a study comparing magnesium to SSRIs, but that study will of course never receive funding.
Cancer patients who are using opiates commonly suffer from constipation, so the use of magnesium citrate can help with constipation and depression/anxiety simultaneously.
Although in this study, the investigators used magnesium chloride, I prefer to use magnesium glycinate for patients without constipation, because of the calming effect of glycine on the CNS. If constipation is an issue, I prefer magnesium citrate.
Keep in mind that in this study, they used 248 mg of elemental magnesium per day. Magnesium citrate contains 16% elemental magnesium and magnesium glycinate contains 14% elemental magnesium, so when you prescribe it, be sure your calculations are correct.
healthyliving March 13th, 2019
Tags: antidepressants, clinical trial, depression, depression treatment, magnesium, magnesium supplement, trial
Source Credit: This article was originally released by the the European Society for Medical Oncology in December, 2016.
A brain-boosting protein plays an important role in how well people respond to chemotherapy, researchers report at the ESMO Asia 2016 Congress in Singapore.
A study has found that cancer patients suffering depression have decreased amounts of brain-derived neurotophic factor (BDNF) in their blood. Low levels make people less responsive to cancer drugs and less tolerant of their side-effects.
Lead author Yufeng Wu, head of oncology, department of internal medicine, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Cancer Hospital, Zhengzhou, China, said: “It’s crucial doctors pay more attention to the mood and emotional state of patients. “Depression can reduce the effects of chemotherapy and BDNF plays an important role in this process.”
Low mood is common among cancer patients, especially the terminally ill. BDNF is essential for healthy brain function and low levels have already been linked with mental illness. This study aimed to discover how depression influenced outcomes for people with advanced lung cancer.
Researchers recruited 186 newly diagnosed patients receiving chemotherapy. To assess their state of mind, they were asked to rate their depression levels the day before treatment began. Quality of life details, overall survival and other data were also collected. This allowed researchers to compare this information with the patients’ mood scores.
Results showed that those whose cancer had spread to other organs were the most depressed and this severely decreased their tolerance to chemotherapy. It was associated with vomiting, a reduction in white blood cells, and prolonged hospital stays. The impact of severe depression was even greater. It reduced the length of time that patients lived with the disease without it getting worse.
Researchers found that BDNF clearly boosted the number of tumour cells killed by chemotherapy. Patients with severe depression had lower levels of the protein in the blood so their bodies were not as effective at fighting cancer. This reduced their chance of surviving the disease.
“Our aim now is to prescribe drugs such as fluoxetine to depressed patients and study their sensitivity to chemotherapy,” added Wu. Commenting on the results of the research, Ravindran Kanesvaran, consultant medical oncologist and assistant professor, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, said: “The link between depression and poor outcomes among these patients is significant and can be associated with the downregulation of brain derived neurotrophic factor.
“This finding can perhaps lead to new ways to treat depression in these patients which in turn may prolong their lives. Further research is needed to establish the effects of different anti-depressant drugs on BDNF levels.”
healthyliving March 29th, 2017
Posted In: cancer care, Healthy Lifestyle
Tags: cancer, chemotherapy, depression, depression and cancer
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Dr. Mark Rosenberg received his doctorate from Georgetown University School of Medicine in 1988 and has been involved with drug research since 1991.