title: Magnesium, C-reactive protein, and cortisol in drug-naïve patients with short illness-duration, first episode major depressive disorder: possible immunomodulatory role for magnesium.
abstract: Plasma magnesium concentration alterations, hypercortisolaemia, and systemic inflammation are observed in major depressive disorder (MDD). This exploratory study examined whether, and to what extent, plasma magnesium is related to C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and cortisolaemia in MDD. The concentrations of plasma magnesium, salivary CRP, and baseline plasma cortisol were studied in 20, treatment-naïve MDD patients with short-illness-duration, first affective episodes and 20 matched controls. Depressed patients showed a basal score higher than 20 on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD-17). Significantly higher magnesium (p = 0.016) and baseline cortisol (p = 0.01) concentrations were observed in MDD as compared to controls. No significant difference in CRP concentrations between the MDD and control groups was observed. A significant negative correlation was seen between magnesium and CRP in MDD (p<0.01), whereas no correlation was found in controls. A significant positive correlation was found between cortisol and CRP, both in MDD subjects (p = 0.008) and controls (p = 0.004). No significant correlations were observed between magnesium and cortisol levels. The study supports data for hypercortisolaemia in MDD, but provides no evidence of primary hypomagnesaemia or elevated CRP levels in drug-naïve MDD patients with short-illness-duration. The study supports the hypothesis linking hypercortisolaemia to systemic inflammation, with hypermagnesaemia exerting an immunomodulatory action at early stages of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland.
authors.forename: Wiesław Jerzy
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Cubała
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland.
authors.forename: Jerzy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Landowski
authors.affiliation: Department of Toxicology, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland.
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dziadziuszko
authors.affiliation: Radiometer Sp. z o.o., Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chrzanowska
authors.affiliation: Department of Toxicology, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland.
authors.forename: Bartosz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wielgomas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D056747:Immunomodulation; D008274:Magnesium / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D008274:Magnesium; D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: C-reactive protein; cortisol; drug-naïve individuals; magnesium; major depressive disorder