It has been suggested that a low intake of magnesium results in the opening of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) coupled calcium channels. The unbalanced opening of these channels may cause neuronal injury and this could lead to disease. One possibility is that low magnesium diets leads to depression as NMDA channel dysfunction causes brain injury through this neuronal injury. High magnesium diets have been shown to be beneficial against depression because they prevent the opening of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) coupled calcium channels. Evidence for the benefits of magnesium comes from studies that have shown that subjects with high blood levels of magnesium have the lowest risk of depression. One study demonstrated that the administration of magnesium as a supplement to subjects with depression was as effective as prescribing tricyclic antidepressants. However, the use of magnesium was associated with no side effects, whereas the tricyclic antidepressants were not so well tolerated.
One of the possible causes of depression could be a deficiency of magnesium. Magnesium supplement and high magnesium diets appear to be beneficial in the treatment of mood disorders, particularly depression. Green leafy vegetables are a good source of magnesium.
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