title: The serum magnesium concentration as a potential state marker in patients with unipolar affective disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The growing body of evidence suggests that magnesium levels can serve as a marker of major depressive disorder (MDD), but findings from clinical trials remain inconclusive. The aim of the presented study was to determine the magnesium concentration in serum of patients with MDD (in the active stage of the disease or in remission) and to analyze the role of magnesium levels as apotential marker of the disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-nine patients with current depressive episode, 45 patients in remission and 50 healthy volunteers were enrolled into the case-control study. The magnesium concentration was measured by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean serum magnesium concentration of patients in the depressed phase was significantly higher, compared to the control group. Moreover, magnesium levels of patients in the remission were not significantly different from the concentrations recorded in the healthy volunteers. There was also a positive correlation between the magnesium levels and the severity of depression measured by the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HDRS) and the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The obtained results may suggest a role of magnesium as a state marker reflecting the pathophysiological changes underlying MDD and accompanying severe depressive episodes.
authors.affiliation: Zakład Zaburzeń Afektywnych Katedry Psychiatrii UJ CM.
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Styczeń
authors.affiliation: Zakład Zaburzeń Afektywnych Katedry Psychiatrii UJ CM.
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Siwek
authors.affiliation: Pracownia Neurobiologii Pierwiastków Śladowych Instytutu Farmakologii PAN w Krakowie.
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sowa-Kućma
authors.affiliation: Zakład Zaburzeń Afektywnych Katedry Psychiatrii UJ CM.
authors.forename: Dominika
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dudek
authors.affiliation: Katedra Chemii Analitycznej, Akademia Górniczo-Hutnicza, ul. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Kraków;
authors.forename: Witold
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Reczyński
authors.affiliation: Pracownia Neurobiologii Pierwiastków Śladowych Instytutu Farmakologii PAN w Krakowie.
authors.forename: Bernadeta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Szewczyk
authors.affiliation: Pracownia Neurobiologii Pierwiastków Śladowych Instytutu Farmakologii PAN w Krakowie.
authors.forename: Paulina
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Misztak
authors.affiliation: Zakład Epidemiologii i Badań Populacyjnych Instytutu Zdrowia Publicznego UJ CM.
authors.forename: Roman
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Topór-Mądry
authors.affiliation: Katedra Chemii Nieorganicznej i Analitycznej UJ CM.
authors.forename: Włodzimierz
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Opoka
authors.affiliation: Pracownia Neurobiologii Pierwiastków Śladowych Instytutu Farmakologii PAN w Krakowie.
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nowak
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008274:Magnesium / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D008274:Magnesium
keywords: affective disorders; biomarkers; depression; magnesium