Magnesium (Mg) acts as a coenzyme for many enzymatic systems. Thus the deficiency of this mineral in the human body is linked with several chronic diseases. Low Ca level in the blood serum causes fragility of hair and nails and can also lead to mood disorders and depression. Ĭalcium (Ca) is essential for activation of different enzymes and plays a vital role in neuromuscular excitability. Several studies have suggested that alterations of these elements in serum levels are linked with the etiology and pathophysiology of many mental disorders, including major depression. Macro-minerals (MM) and trace elements (TE) play a versatile role in the biological system ranging from regulating metabolic reactions to acting as antioxidants. However, the mechanisms of these risk factors are still unknown. Major depression has been considered as a multifactorial disorder with genetic, neurological, and environmental factors contributing to overall risk. As major depression gives the enormous burden on an individual’s life, extensive efforts have been made to explore the biological mechanisms of it. Major depressive disorder (MDD) is accompanied by low self-esteem and loss of interest or pleasure in day to day activities that adversely affect a person’s professional and personal life. Alterations of these elements in serum levels of MDD patients arise independently and they may provide a prognostic tool for the assessment of depression risk. Our study suggests that altered serum concentrations of MM and TE are major contributing factors for the pathogenesis of MDD. Data obtained from different inter-element relations in MDD patients and control subjects strongly suggest that there is a disturbance in the element homeostasis. But the concentration of copper was significantly increased in the patients than control subjects ( p < 0.05). We found significantly decreased concentrations of calcium and magnesium, iron, manganese, selenium, and zinc in MDD patients compared with control subjects ( p < 0.05). Statistical analysis was performed with independent sample t-tests and Pearson’s correlation test. The serum levels of MM and TE were analyzed by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). This prospective case-control study recruited 247 patients and 248 healthy volunteers matched by age and sex. The purpose of this study was to determine the serum levels of MM (calcium and magnesium) and TE (copper, iron, manganese, selenium, and zinc) in MDD patients and find out their associations with depression risk. However, over the past few years, altered serum levels of macro-minerals (MM) and trace elements (TE) have been recognized as major causative factors to the pathogenesis of many mental disorders. Major causes of depression are genetic, neurobiological, and environmental. Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a mixed disorder with the highly irregular course, inconsistent response to treatment and has no well-known mechanism for the pathophysiology.
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