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Effect of magnesium and vitamin B6 supplementation on mental health and quality of life in stressed healthy adults: Post-hoc analysis of a randomised controlled trial.
Noah, L, Dye, L, Bois De Fer, B, Mazur, A, Pickering, G, Pouteau, E
Stress and health : journal of the International Society for the Investigation of Stress. 2021;37(5):1000-1009
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Stress and low magnesemia are shown to be linked by previous research evidence. Additionally, Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) has been shown to have stress-relieving and neuromodulating effects. This 1:1 randomised, investigator-blinded, parallel-group trial compared the effectiveness of magnesium alone and a combination of magnesium and vitamin B6 in participants with moderate to severe stress on mental and physical health. Participants consumed 300 mg magnesium lactate dihydrate daily with 30 mg Vitamin B6 or 300 mg magnesium lactate dihydrate daily for 8 weeks. Treatment with magnesium with or without vitamin B6 improved depression and anxiety, specifically a significant improvement observed after week four of the intervention. Quality of life improvements were sustained over 8 weeks among participants with magnesemia. Combined supplementation of magnesium and vitamin B6 increased the perceived capacity for physical activity in participants. Further robust research is needed to evaluate the combined effects of vitamin B6 and magnesium on stress-related mental health in people with magnesemia. However, healthcare professionals can use the results of this study to better understand magnesium and vitamin B6 supplementation's positive effects on stress-related mental health.
Abstract
Magnesium status and vitamin B6 intake have been linked to mental health and/or quality of life (QoL). In an 8-week Phase IV randomised controlled study in individuals with low magnesemia and severe/extremely severe stress but who were otherwise healthy, greater stress reduction was achieved with magnesium combined with vitamin B6 than with magnesium alone. We present a previously unreported secondary analysis of the effect of magnesium, with and without vitamin B6, on depression, anxiety, and QoL. Adults with Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-42) stress subscale score >18 were randomised 1:1 to magnesium + vitamin B6 combination (Magne B6® ; daily dose 300 and 30 mg, respectively) or magnesium alone (Magnespasmyl® ; daily dose 300 mg). Outcomes included changes from baseline in DASS-42 depression and anxiety scores, and QoL (Short Form-36 Health Survey). DASS-42 anxiety and depression scores significantly improved from baseline to week 8 with both treatments, particularly during the first 4 weeks. Improvement in QoL continued over 8 weeks. Participants' perceived capacity for physical activity in daily life showed greater improvement with magnesium + vitamin B6 than magnesium alone (Week 4). In conclusion, magnesium supplementation, with or without vitamin B6, could provide a meaningful clinical benefit in daily life for individuals with stress and low magnesemia.
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Genetic risk-factors for anxiety in healthy individuals: polymorphisms in genes important for the HPA axis.
Lindholm, H, Morrison, I, Krettek, A, Malm, D, Novembre, G, Handlin, L
BMC medical genetics. 2020;21(1):184
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Anxiety is a complex disorder that involves alterations in hormones secreted from glands in the brain. Genetic variations in these hormones can mean that some individuals are more susceptible to anxiety disorders. The aim of this observational study was to investigate possible relationships between genetic changes in brain hormones and anxiety in 72 individuals. The results showed that women were more likely than men to report feelings of anxiety and there were several relationships between genetic variations in brain hormones and self-reported measures of anxiety. It was concluded that genetic variations in brain hormones are associated with anxiety disorders in healthy individuals. This study could be used by healthcare professionals to understand how genetics could play a role in anxiety and that certain genes could be used to identify individuals at risk of anxiety disorders.
Abstract
BACKGROUND Two important aspects for the development of anxiety disorders are genetic predisposition and alterations in the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. In order to identify genetic risk-factors for anxiety, the aim of this exploratory study was to investigate possible relationships between genetic polymorphisms in genes important for the regulation and activity of the HPA axis and self-assessed anxiety in healthy individuals. METHODS DNA from 72 healthy participants, 37 women and 35 men, were included in the analyses. Their DNA was extracted and analysed for the following Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNP)s: rs41423247 in the NR3C1 gene, rs1360780 in the FKBP5 gene, rs53576 in the OXTR gene, 5-HTTLPR in SLC6A4 gene and rs6295 in the HTR1A gene. Self-assessed anxiety was measured by the State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) questionnaire. RESULTS Self-assessed measure of both STAI-S and STAI-T were significantly higher in female than in male participants (p = 0.030 and p = 0.036, respectively). For SNP rs41423247 in the NR3C1 gene, there was a significant difference in females in the score for STAI-S, where carriers of the G allele had higher scores compared to the females that were homozygous for the C allele (p < 0.01). For the SNP rs53576 in the OXTR gene, there was a significant difference in males, where carriers of the A allele had higher scores in STAI-T compared to the males that were homozygous for the G allele (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION This study shows that SNP rs41423247 in the NR3C1 gene and SNP rs53576 in the OXTR gene are associated with self-assessed anxiety in healthy individuals in a gender-specific manner. This suggests that these SNP candidates are possible genetic risk-factors for anxiety.
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Lysine fortification reduces anxiety and lessens stress in family members in economically weak communities in Northwest Syria.
Smriga, M, Ghosh, S, Mouneimne, Y, Pellett, PL, Scrimshaw, NS
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 2004;101(22):8285-8
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The risk of protein deficiency, particularly lysine, is high among communities that depend on wheat for their protein supply. In experimental animals, prolonged lysine inadequacy increases stress-induced anxiety, however the evidence of nutritional benefits for fortifying wheat with lysine is limited. The aim of this study was to investigate whether consuming lysine-fortified wheat for three months would reduce stress and anxiety in Northwest Syrian rural communities. This study indicated that lysine fortification significantly reduced anxiety in males. These results suggest that some stress responses among economically weak populations consuming wheat-based diets can be improved with lysine fortification.
Abstract
Lysine is a limiting amino acid in diets based on wheat as the staple. In experimental animals, prolonged dietary lysine inadequacy increases stress-induced anxiety. If observed in humans, such a result would have a strong implication for the relationship between nutrition and communal quality of life and mental health. As part of a 3-month randomized double-blind study, we tested whether lysine fortification of wheat reduces anxiety and stress response in family members in poor Syrian communities consuming wheat as a staple food. In the lysine-fortified group, the plasma cortisol response to the blood drawing as a cause of stress was reduced in females, as was sympathetic arousal in males as measured by skin conductance. Lysine fortification also significantly reduced chronic anxiety as measured by the trait anxiety inventory in males. These results suggest that some stress responses in economically weak populations consuming cereal-based diets can be improved with lysine fortification.