Role of Magnesium Supplementation in Depression Treatment: RCT
Does magnesium help depression?
Yes. Magnesium supplementation significantly improves depression symptoms within 2 weeks. Randomized controlled trial shows meaningful benefits compared to placebo.
What the data show:
- Time to improvement: significant benefits within 2 weeks
- Against placebo: clinically meaningful symptom reduction
- Safety profile: minimal side effects, low cost, natural approach
- Combined treatment: effective add-on therapy with medications
- Mechanism: neurotransmitter synthesis support + stress response regulation
A clinical trial published in PLOS ONE found that magnesium supplementation produced clinically meaningful improvements in depressive symptoms compared to placebo control, providing gold-standard RCT evidence for this treatment approach.