Zinc, future mono/adjunctive therapy for depression: Mechanisms of antidepressant action
Abstract
Affective disorders (depression) are considered as chronic illnesses leading to substantial disability, morbidity and mortality. While the etiology and pathophysiology of these diseases are still poorly recognized, the most important problems concerning them are low treatment response, treatment resistance and/or tolerance and risk of relapse. Recently published review articles have already demonstrated the important role of zinc in the pathophysiology and treatment of affective disorders, plus discussed the potential value of zinc as a marker of these diseases. This present concise review will update the experimental and clinical data on the antidepressant activity of zinc and focus on the mechanisms of its action. The mechanisms involving NMDA and AMPA glutamate, 5-HT1A serotonin and the GPR39 zinc-sensing receptor and intracellular pathways will be discussed.
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An anxiolytic effect of zinc was recorded in anxiety disorder preclinical and clinical discoveries.
“In addition, an anxiolytic effect of zinc was recorded in anxiety disorder preclinical [292, 293] and clinical [294] discoveries backing up this hypothesis”
From Oxidative Stress Implications in the Affective Disorders: Main Biomarkers, Animal Models Relevance, Genetic Perspectives, and Antioxidant Approaches (2016) · cites this paper as [294]
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“In addition, an anxiolytic effect of zinc was recorded in anxiety disorder preclinical [292, 293] and clinical [294] discoveries backing up this hypothesis that could”
BackgroundDoboszewska, U., Młyniec, K., Wlaź, A., Poleszak, E., Nowak, G., & Wlaź, P. (2019) · Pharmacology & Therapeutics · doi:10.1016/j.pharmthera.2018.08.013 · Cited by 81 · see citing works
Self-citation
- Authors
- Nowak, G.
- Affiliations
- Maj Institute of Pharmacology (PL)
- Corresponding author
- Nowak, Gabriel
- ORCID
- Nowak, Gabriel
- Venue
- Pharmacological Reports
- Published
- 2015-06
- Volume
- 67
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 659-662
- ISSN
- 1734-1140 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2044950845
- Cited by
- 65
- References
- 57
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 7
- FWCI
- 1.34
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Pharmacological Reports (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Treatment of Major Depression
- Health Sciences › Nursing › Nutrition and Dietetics › Trace Elements in Health
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Biological Psychiatry › Tryptophan and brain disorders
- Keywords
- zinc, depression, antidepressant mechanism, NMDA receptor, AMPA receptors, 5-HT1A receptor, intracellular signaling, treatment resistance, mood disorders
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Antidepressive Agents, Depression, Drug Therapy, Combination, Forecasting, Humans, Zinc
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