Analysis of Relations Between the Level of Mg, Zn, Ca, Cu, and Fe and Depressiveness in Postmenopausal Women

• Published in: Biological trace element research 2017-03, Vol.176 (1), p.56-63
• Main Authors: Szkup, Małgorzata, Jurczak, Anna, Brodowska, Aleksandra, Brodowska, Agnieszka, Noceń, Iwona, Chlubek, Dariusz, Laszczyńska, Maria, Karakiewicz, Beata, Grochans, Elżbieta
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Biochemical analysis; Biochemistry; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biotechnology; Calcium - blood; Copper - blood; Depressive Disorder - blood; Depressive Disorder - psychology; Endocrine therapy; Female; Humans; Iron - blood; Life Sciences; Magnesium - blood; Menopause; Mental depression; Mental disorders; Middle Aged; Nutrition; Oncology; Postmenopause - blood; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Reference Values; Severity of Illness Index; Trace elements; Zinc; Zinc - blood
• ISSN: 0163-4984; 1559-0720
• DOI: 10.1007/s12011-016-0798-9

Numerous observations suggest a possible connection between the levels of Mg, Zn, Fe, and Zn and the incidence of depressive symptoms. Depression is two to three times more common in women than in men. The menopausal period is extremely conducive to depressive disorders. The aim of this study was to assess the severity of depressive symptoms in postmenopausal women depending on the levels of Mg, Zn, Ca, Cu, and Fe. The study included 198 healthy postmenopausal women at the average age of 56.26 ± 5.55 years. In the first part of the study, standardized research tools were used, namely the Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders (PRIME-MD) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). The second part involved biochemical analysis of Mg, Zn, Ca, Cu, and Fe levels in blood serum. The lowest Cu levels were observed in women without depressive symptoms (1.07 ± 0.22 mg/l) and the highest in those with severe depressive symptoms (1.19 ± 0.17 mg/l), ( p  ≤ 0.05). The lowest Mg levels were observed in women with depressive symptoms (14.28 ± 2.13 mg/l), and the highest in women without depressive symptoms (16.30 ± 3.51 mg/l), ( p  ≤ 0.05). The average serum Mg levels (15.75 ± 3.23 mg/l) decreased compared to the reference values (18.77–24 mg/l). What is striking is a potential relation between the levels of Mg and Cu and depressiveness. Our results indicate to a higher vulnerability to depression in a group of women with lower levels of Mg and higher levels of Cu.