Serum trace elements in animal models and human depression. Part I. Zinc

Abstract

In the present study we report the results of investigations into the serum zinc levels in a clinical study of 19 patients with unipolar depression; 16 normal controls and in three animal models of depression: chronic severe stress (CSS), chronic mild stress (CMS) and olfactory bulbectomy (OB) in rats. CSS model and unipolar depressed patients exhibit lower serum zinc levels than the appropriate controls. There was no eect on the value in CMS or OB models. The present ®ndings con®rm previous clinical data indicating decreased serum zinc levels in human depression. Moreover, the data indicate that dierences exists in the serum zinc levels in dierent animal models of depression and suggest a similarity between the CSS model and human depression with regard to this marker.

The relationship between serum trace elements, vitamin B12, folic acid and clinical parameters in patients with myofascial pain syndrome

“…In addition, some clinical investigations have pointed out alterations in the blood zinc levels as a potential marker of depression [15]. In the present study we found lower serum Zn levels in patients with MPS and there was a meaningful correlation between serum Zn levels and BDI.…”

Zinc Deficiency Blunts the Effectiveness of Antidepressants in the Olfactory Bulbectomy Model of Depression in Rats

“…Interestingly, the same effect was observed in rats subjected to the OB + ZnD model, albeit no effect was seen in OB by itself. No changes in serum zinc levels were present in the chronic mild stress (CMS) model [49]. Based on the above, decreased serum zinc level seems to be a biomarker of human depression and our studies indicate that the OB + ZnD model exhibits similarities to human depression concerning zinc.…”

Nutritional Treatment for Traumatic Brain Injury

“…Moreover, the unipolar depression was not only associated with lower blood Zn levels, but the severity of the illness (expressed according to Hamilton Depression Rating Scale was negatively correlated with serum level of this ion. 85,86 The findings that the lowered serum Zn concentrations may be normalized after successful antidepressant therapy 87,88 further support the notion that serum Zn concentrations are a sensitive and specific marker of depression. A recent systematic review of four RCTs on the efficacy of Zn supplementation for reducing or preventing depressive symptoms suggests potential benefits of Zn supplementation as a stand-alone intervention or as an adjunct to conventional antidepressant drug therapy for depression.…”