Magnesium L-threonate may boost memory, ease anxiety: animal data
“Our data are consistent with a growing animal literature suggesting that chronic MgT treatment may have clinical relevance since it has been shown to reduce learned helplessness (a model of human depression), enhance the efficacy of fear extinction, and reduce cognitive deficits in a mouse model of Alzheimer's Disease,” report researchers from Baldwin Wallace University in Ohio.
With between 70 and 80% of the US population not meeting their recommended intakes of magnesium, consumers – and the health care professionals who advise them - are waking up to the importance of the mineral.
The new study used the magnesium L-threonate ingredient branded Magtein by Magceutics. The ingredient is distributed by AIDP.
Optimistic
According to Jennifer Gu, PhD, AIPD VP of research and development, the new study provided verification by independent research of previously published functions of Magtein in a different behavior system that has been known to use the same brain signaling pathways.
“The clinical trial results revealed that the effect of Magtein on memory enhancement as well as fear memory control was proven in a different system by an independent third party research group,” she said.
“While further studies are needed, the data suggests that Magtein may enhance many areas of the memory related brain functions, as covered by awarded and pending international patents. We are optimistic that more independent studies will confirm and reveal further applicable functions of Magtein.”
Study details
Writing in Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior, the Ohio-based researchers explain that they set out to investigate the ability of Magtein to affect the extinction and spontaneous recovery (SR) on conditioned taste aversion (CTA). They created an aversive memory that caused the rats to refuse the conditioned stimulus (CS) of saccharin.
Results showed that this aversion memory was then slowly extinguished by repeated exposure to saccharin alone. Magtein treated rats exhibited a faster rate of extinction than the control group, they added.
“Although magnesium sulfate treatments have been reported to improve recovery following traumatic cortical damage in rats and have shown some promise as a pre-hospitalization treatment for acute stroke patients, there are limitations on the ability of this compound to move Mg2 + into the brain,” wrote the researchers.
“Trials such as these may benefit from using magnesium L-threonate as a vehicle compound to deliver elemental magnesium to the central nervous system.”
Source: Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior
Volume 106, May 2013, Pages 16-26, doi: 10.1016/j.pbb.2013.02.019
“Chronic dietary magnesium-L-threonate speeds extinction and reduces spontaneous recovery of a conditioned taste aversion”
Authors: G.A. Mickley, N. Hoxha, J.L. Luchsinger, M.M. Rogers, N.R. Wiles
