Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Magnesium deficiency has been associated with anxiety in humans, and rodent studies have demonstrated the gut microbiota to impact behaviour.
METHODS: We investigated the impact of 6 weeks of dietary magnesium deficiency on gut microbiota composition and anxiety-like behaviour and whether there was a link between the two. A total of 20 C57BL/6 mice, fed either a standard diet or a magnesium-deficient diet for 6 weeks, were tested using the light-dark box anxiety test. Gut microbiota composition was analysed by denaturation gradient gel electrophoresis.
RESULTS: We demonstrated that the gut microbiota composition correlated significantly with the behaviour of dietary unchallenged mice. A magnesium-deficient diet altered the gut microbiota, and was associated with altered anxiety-like behaviour, measured by decreased latency to enter the light box.
CONCLUSION: Magnesium deficiency altered behavior. The duration of magnesium deficiency is suggested to influence behaviour in the evaluated test.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Acta Neuropsychiatrica (Print) |
| Volume | 27 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| Pages (from-to) | 307-311 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| ISSN | 0924-2708 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 16 Mar 2015 |
Keywords
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences