Plasma magnesium concentration changes are seen in major depressive disorder (MDD). Dysregulation of magnesium homeostasis is associated with the severity of depression and specific psychopathological features including apathy, anxiety, irritability, fatigue and weakness. Results from studies on magnesium concentrations in MDD patients are inconsistent, and the evidence for magnesium ions being associated with specific features of depression and anxiolytic effects is unclear. This study was designed to examine whether and to what extent plasma magnesium is related to the psychopathological features of depression including severity of symptoms and specific psychopathological aspects. Plasma magnesium levels were studied in this cross-sectional, casecontrol study and involved 20, non-late-life adults who were treatment-naïve, short-duration, first episode, MDD patients, and 20 age-and sex-matched, healthy controls. Psychometric evaluations were performed using the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD-17) and the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). A significantly higher magnesium (p = 0.016) concentration was observed in MDD patients compared to controls. No significant correlations were observed between magnesium concentrations and the total HAMD-17 score or with regard to the specific core depression, insomnia, anxiety or somatic HAM-D psychopathological features. In addition, no significant correlations were found between magnesium concentrations and STAIX-1 and STAIX-2 scores. The present study provides evidence of hypermagnesaemia in drugnaïve patients with a short-duration, first episode of MDD. A cross-sectional analysis adds to the evidence linking plasma magnesium concentrations with psychopathology of MDD during early stages of the disease although with no correlations between plasma magnesium concentrations and psychopathology including severity of symptoms and specific psychopathological features.

The aim of this study was to (1) estimate the concentration of selenium in the plasma of 146 residents (65 men and 81 women) and in the hair of 34 persons from the Gdańsk region in northern Poland, aged 19-70 and (2) compare the obtained results with data corresponding to healthy populations living in different European countries. Selenium in plasma was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry using the hydride generation method. The mean selenium concentration in plasma of the investigated persons was 73.3 +/- 14.1 microg/L, 76.7 +/- 13.2 microg/L in men, and 70.4 +/- 14.7 microg/L in women. No age - dependent differences in plasma selenium were found in the investigated population. In 20% of the investigated persons, the selenium level in plasma was lower than 60 microg/L. The mean selenium concentration in hair was 0.30 +/- 0.11 microg/g. A positive, statistically significant correlation between selenium concentrations in the plasma and hair of the investigated persons was found. The obtained results indicate that the selenium level in significant part of this population is suboptimal and should be elevated by supplementation with this element.

The aim of this study was to (1) determine the selenium concentration in the renal cortex, liver, and hair in 64 residents from northern Poland (Gdańsk region) aged 17-81 yr, who died suddenly, and (2) assess whether a correlation between the selenium concentration in hair and in the renal cortex and liver occurs. Selenium was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry using the hydride generation method. The mean selenium concentration in the renal cortex, liver, and hair in the investigated persons was 0.791+/-0.191 microg/g (wet weight), 0.289+/-0.084 microg/g (wet weight), and 0.443+/-0.128 microg/g, respectively. No age-dependent differences in selenium level in the investigated tissues was found. Also, no correlation between the selenium concentrations in hair and in renal cortex and liver was assessed.