Magnesium is an important ingredient in our brain’s biochemistry. Researchers have learned that it triggers changes in the brain’s synapses, the neuronal connections important for transmitting nerve signals. It’s thought to play a role in many of the biological processes involved in mood regulation. Many studies have also found a link between magnesium deficiency and symptoms of depression.
In a 2017 study, 126 adults with mild or moderate depression took magnesium supplements for six weeks and none for another six weeks. Participants scored an average of six points lower on the depression scale during the six weeks of taking magnesium supplements than when they didn’t take the supplements.