Giving rats a specific dose of magnesium for two weeks fixes a brain chemical imbalance in one part of their brain (the prefrontal cortex) that’s linked to depression, but doesn’t change anything in another part (the hippocampus).

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Supporting (1)

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Brain glutamic acid decarboxylase-67 kDa alterations induced by magnesium treatment in olfactory bulbectomy and chronic mild stress models in rats

Cohort Study

Animal

2016 Oct

In rats with depression-like symptoms, giving them a specific dose of magnesium for two weeks fixed a brain chemical problem in one area (the prefrontal cortex) but didn’t change anything in another area (the hippocampus).

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Source Study

Brain glutamic acid decarboxylase-67 kDa alterations induced by magnesium treatment in olfactory bulbectomy and chronic mild stress models in rats

Score: 9

DOI: 10.1016/j.pharep.2016.04.011

Similar Assertions

Giving rats with depression-like symptoms a daily dose of magnesium for a few weeks seems to boost a brain chemical involved in calming nerves, but only in certain brain areas — maybe that’s why they act less depressed.

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Giving magnesium to depressed rats doesn't change the level of a specific brain protein called GAD-67 in a part of the brain called the hippocampus, so magnesium probably isn't working on that protein in that area.

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92%

When rats are stressed out for a long time, giving them a magnesium supplement every day for five weeks boosts a specific brain protein that helps calm the brain, even though the stress itself doesn’t change that protein.

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86%

In rats with depression-like symptoms, magnesium might help by boosting a brain chemical that calms nerve activity, especially in areas linked to mood.

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85%