A new scientific study about the importance of certain minerals in the pathophysiology of mental disorders such as major depression.
Title: Alterations of serum macro-minerals and trace elements are associated
with major depressive disorder: a case-control study
Autors: Md Rabiul Islam, Md Reazul Islam, M. M. A. Shalahuddin Qusar, Mohammad
Safiqul Islam, Md Humayun Kabir, G. K. M. Mustafizur Rahman, Md Saiful Islam and
Abul Hasnatˆ
Reference: Islam et al. BMC Psychiatry (2018) 18:94 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-018-1685-z
Open Access Journal
Abstract
Background: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a mixed
disorder with the highly irregular course, inconsistent response to treatment
and has no well-known mechanism for the pathophysiology. Major causes of
depression are genetic, neurobiological, and environmental. However, over the
past few years, altered serum levels of macro-minerals (MM) and trace elements
(TE) have been recognized as major causative factors to the pathogenesis of many
mental disorders. The purpose of this study was to determine the serum levels
of MM (calcium and magnesium) and TE (copper, iron, manganese, selenium, and
zinc) in MDD patients and find out their associations with depression risk.
Methods: This prospective case-control study recruited 247 patients and 248
healthy volunteers matched by age and sex. The serum levels of MM and TE were
analyzed by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). Statistical analysis was performed
with independent sample t-tests and Pearson’s correlation test.
The observed results were: We found significantly
decreased concentrations of calcium and magnesium, iron, manganese, selenium,
and zinc in MDD patients compared with control subjects (p < 0.05). But the
concentration of copper was significantly increased in the patients than
control subjects (p < 0.05). Data obtained from different inter-element
relations in MDD patients and control subjects strongly suggest that there is a
disturbance in the element homeostasis.
The authors conclude: Our study suggests that altered serum concentrations
of MM and TE are major contributing factors for the pathogenesis of MDD.
Alterations of these elements in serum levels of MDD patients arise
independently and they may provide a prognostic tool for the assessment of
depression risk.
Keywords: Major depressive disorder, Macro-minerals, Trace elements,
Case-control, Inter-element relations
