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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., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

The aim of this study was to assess the severity of depressive symptoms in postmenopausal women, depending on serum Mg and Zn levels. The study involved 171 postmenopausal women from Poland, who were not using menopausal hormone therapy (MHT). The intensity of depressive symptoms was evaluated using a standard research technique, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). The plasma Mg and Zn concentrations were measured. Depressive symptoms of different severity levels were diagnosed in 36.8 % of the women. The mean serum Mg level was 1.53 ± 0.28 mg/dL, and Zn level was 72 ±14 μg/dL. The women with higher serum Mg and Zn levels had less depressive symptoms, and this observation is a precious information which can be used when planning depressive disorder prevention programmes.

Approximately 30% of a woman's life is spent in the postmenopausal period. This is when steroid hormone deficiency is often accompanied by mineral homeostasis perturbations and deficiencies that could be related to the intensity of any clinical symptoms. The aim of this study was to assess how serum Mg and Zn levels in postmenopausal women correlate with climacteric symptoms, body mass index (BMI), and the time interval since the final menstruation. The study involved 171 healthy, postmenopausal women, who had had their final menstruation at least one year prior to the study and who did not use menopausal hormone therapy. Both hypomagnesaemia and hypozincaemia were detected in the postmenopausal women involved in this study. The analysis revealed statistically significant differences between serum Mg levels, depending on the time interval since the final menstruation (p<0.05). No statistically significant differences were found in serum Mg and Zn levels between women as regards the severity of the climacteric symptoms or BMI (p>0.05). In conclusion, serum Mg and Zn concentrations in postmenopausal women, not using MHT, were low. The average serum Mg levels decreased considerably with the time since the final menstruation. No correlation between BMI and worsening of climacteric symptoms and serum Mg and Zn concentrations in postmenopausal women, not using MHT was found.

Aim: To compare the mineral content of the dentin of worn versus unworn teeth., Material and Methods: Coronal dentin samples were collected from twenty one premolar teeth extracted for prosthetic or periodontal indications, including 11 intact teeth and 10 teeth with a significant occlusal wear. Samples were placed in concentrated nitric acid and diluted 500 times for the analysis of calcium and magnesium content and 11 times for the analysis of zinc. Contents of calcium, magnesium and zinc ions were established by means of atomic absorption spectrometry in an oxygen acetylene flame. The content of phosphorus was established by means of spectrophotometry using a test basing on a reaction of colour phosphoric-molybdenic complex formation. Data normality was assessed with Shapiro-Wilk test. Student's t-test was used for all comparisons., Results: A statistically significantly higher content of magnesium and a lower Ca/Mg ratio were found in worn teeth at the 5% level. The concentrations of the other minerals analysed were not significantly different between the worn and intact teeth at the 5% level., Conclusion: Higher magnesium content in the dentin of human worn teeth may constitute a defence reaction to dentin exposure.

Drug addiction is a complex problem which leads to many somatic, psychic and social diseases. It is accompanied by the disturbed metabolism of various macro and micronutrients. The aim of this study was to assess serum magnesium concentration in drug-addicted patients and analyze whether Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection and methadone treatment affect the level of serum magnesium in these patients. The examination was conducted in a group of 83 people - patients of Szczecin-Zdroje Psychiatric Hospital (Poland). They were 21 to 49 years old, and the mean age was 32 +/- 7 years. The control group consisted of 81 healthy individuals. Flame atomic-absorption spectrometry method was used to determine the magnesium concentration. The total serum magnesium concentration was calculated for the whole patient group, subgroups of women and men, a subgroup of people infected with HIV, and a subgroup receiving methadone substitution treatment. How magnesium behaves depending on age and addiction period, was checked. The mean concentration of magnesium in blood serum of the patients examined was 0.57 mmol/L, which was significantly lower than in the control group. In the subgroup of men it was 0.57 mmol/L, and in the subgroup of women - 0.55 mmol/L; the differences were not statistically significant. In the patient group nobody had the appropriate magnesium concentration in blood serum. No significant correlation was found between the magnesium concentration, age of the patients and addiction period. In the subgroup of seropositive people the mean concentration of magnesium was 0.55 mmol/L, and in the subgroup of non-infected patients - 0.58 mmol/L; the difference was not statistically significant. The mean concentration of magnesium in the subgroup treated with methadone was 0.59 mmol/L, and in the subgroup not involved in this type of therapy - 0.55 mmol/L; it was not a statistically significant difference.

This work was designed to determine the content of fluorides, calcium, and magnesium in the superficial layer of enamel of adult teeth. The study group consisted of 25 patients, aged 18 to 35 years, appearing for dental treatment. Two microsamples of the superficial layer of enamel were collected from each patient with the acid biopsy technique. Samples were obtained from pulpectomized teeth treated endodontically and from teeth with necrotic pulp qualifying for endodontic treatment. Control samples were obtained from homonymous, caries-free teeth with vital pulp. The results of biochemical tests in the study group were compared with control teeth.

The blood serum of 420 children and young people between 5 and 18 years of age was examined to appoint the content of calcium, magnesium, zinc and copper in it. The examination was realized by AAS method. The calcium level was from 54.16 mg/l to 594.28 mg/l; an average was 148.66 +/- 64.61 mg/l. The magnesium level was from 7.78 mg/l to 66.26 mg/l; an average was 21.84 +/- 6.36 and was higher than data in literary output for children from other regions of Poland. The zinc level was from 0.19 mg/l to 2.94 mg/l, on an average 0.92 +/- 0.30 mg/l. The copper level was from 0.23 mg/l to 2.56 mg/l; average was 1.03 +/- 0.34 mg/l. The almost shortages in these bioelements were in children between 10 and 14, the least shortages were in children between 5 and 9. There were most of all children with high zinc level in blood serum in 10-14 years old group.

The aim of this study was to assess the influence of soy isoflavones, administered pre- and later postnatally, on the estrogen receptor α (ERα) and β (ERβ) expression in bones and to examine the mineral metabolism of the skeletal system in male rats. In bones, ERs were examined with an immunohistochemical method; in blood, estradiol with chemiluminescence immunoassay and in blood and bones, calcium and magnesium with atomic absorption spectrometry and fluorides with a potentiometric method were examined. Decreased immunoexpression of ERα and the increased intensity of immunofluorescence of ERβ in osteocytes in the femur of experimental rats were observed. In the serum of treated rats, a significantly higher concentration of estradiol and lower calcium were observed. The content of magnesium and fluoride were significantly higher in the bones of the examined animals. The data presented show that pre- and postnatal supplementation of male rats with soy isoflavones may considerably increase the concentration of estrogens in serum, with a concurrent effect on the mineral composition of bones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Annual shedding of antlers by males is a characteristic feature of most deer species. Regrowth is very fast, reaching 2 cm/day for some species and making them an interesting model for studying tissue regeneration processes. The aim of this study was to compare the contents of calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus in antlers and cranial bones of European red deer from Western Pomerania, Poland. We obtained 30 antlers from three forestry districts that differed in the extent of environmental pollution with fluorine compounds, SO2, NOx, CO, and CO2 (Trzebież, Rokita and Gryfino). Deer were assigned to two age groups: from 2 to 4 years, and from 6 to 8 years. Powdered samples of cranial bones and antler base obtained with a dental drill were dissolved in nitric acid. Calcium and magnesium contents were measured by atomic absorption spectroscopy, while phosphorus was determined colorimetrically. The content of calcium was higher in antlers - (mean 133.96 mg/g) hardly surprising given the higher calcified cartilage and immature bone content in antler as opposed to cranial bone (mean 123.79 mg/g). Phosphorus content was slightly higher in bones than in antlers (84.62 mg/g and 83.58 mg/g, respectively), which suggests that Ca:P ratios are different in the mineral phase or that there is more P in bone compared to the antler matrix. No difference in magnesium content was noted (5.23 to 5.46 mg/g). Statistical analysis revealed significant differences depending on age of the animal and level of industrial pollution in the animal's habitat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]