Decreased serum magnesium levels in depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Magnesium (Mg2+), an endogenous N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist, has received increased attention recently because of its role in the pathophysiology of and treatment response in depression. However, whether Mg2+ level is decreased in depression is not firmly established. We aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to help making consensus for the association between Mg2+ levels and depression.Methods: A systematic search was conducted in the electronic database resources PubMed and Embase. After a careful selection of relevant studies, a meta-analysis using the random effects model was conducted in each measuring source, such as serum, plasma, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).Results: A total of 18 studies were included in this study. Among 11 studies that measured Mg2+ in the serum, Mg2+ level was lower in patients with depression than in controls (weighted mean difference = −.088, 95% confidence interval = −.164 to −.012). In the sensitivity analysis by removin...