Proper Name: Calcium

Common Name: Calcium

Evidence of Efficacy: statement to the effect of Calcium deficiency or imbalance plays a role in the symptoms of mood disorders. Observational and experimental studies have shown an association between calcium and aggression^1,2, anxiety^3,4,5,6,7 and ADHD^8,9, bipolar disorder^{10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17}, depression^{18,19,20,21,22,23} and premenstrual syndrome^{24,25,26,27,28}.                 

References:

1. Walsh, William J., analytical chemist, Argonne National Laboratory; Sci News 124:122-2, 1983.

2. Schmidt K, Wier WR, Asch M. Clinical ecology treatment approach for juvenile offenders. J Behav Ecology: Bioscocial 2(1), 1981.

3. Carlson RJ. Longitudinal observations of two cases of organic anxiety syndrome. Psychsomatics 27(7):529-31, 1986.

4. Lawlor BA. Hypocalcemia, hypoparathyroidism, and organic anxiety syndrome.
J Clin Psychiatry. 1988 Aug;49(8):317-8.

5. Crammer JL. Calcium metabolism and mental disorder. Psychol Med 7(4):557-60, 1977.

6. Houssain M. Neurological and psychiatric manifestations in idiopathic hypoparathyroidism: Response to treatment. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 33:153-6, 1970.

7. Joborn C etal. Psychiatric symptomatology in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism. Ups J Med Sci 91(1):77-87, 1986.

8. Kozielec T, Starobrat-Hermelin B, Kotkowiak L. Deficiency of certain trace elements in children with hyperactivity. Psychiatr Pol. 1994 May-Jun;28(3):345-53.

9. Walker S III. Drugging the American child: We’re too cavalier about hyperactivity. J Learn Disabil 8:354, 1975.

10. Bowden CL, Huang LG, Javors MA, Johnson JM, Seleshi E, McIntyre K, Contreras S, Maas JW.

11. Calcium function in affective disorders and healthy controls.
Biol Psychiatry. 1988 Feb 15;23(4):367-76.
12. Groat RD, Mackenzie TB. The appearance of mania following intravenous calcium replacement. J Nerv Ment Dis 168:562-3, 1980.

13. Dubovsky SL, Christiano J, Daniell LC, Franks RD, Murphy J, Adler L, Baker N, Harris RA.

Increased platelet intracellular calcium concentration in patients with bipolar affective disorders.
Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1989 Jul;46(7):632-8.
14. Dubovsky SL, Murphy J, Thomas M, Rademacher J.

Abnormal intracellular calcium ion concentration in platelets and lymphocytes of bipolar patients.
Am J Psychiatry. 1992 Jan;149(1):118-20.
15. Dubovsky SL, Murphy J, Christiano J, Lee C.

The calcium second messenger system in bipolar disorders: data supporting new research directions. J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci. 1992 Winter;4(1):3-14.
16. Carman JS, Wyatt RJ.

Calcium: pacesetting the periodic psychoses.
Am J Psychiatry. 1979 Aug;136(8):1035-9.
17. Carman JS, Wyatt RJ.

Calcium: bivalent cation in the bivalent psychoses.
Biol Psychiatry. 1979 Apr;14(2):295-336.

18. Depression and hypercalcemia. Am J Med. 1996 Jul;101(1):111-7.
19. Joborn C etal. Psychiatric symptomatology in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism. Ups J Med Sci 91(1):77-87, 1986.

20. Alarcon RD, Franceschini JA. Hyperparathyroidism and paranoid psychosis. Br J Psychiatry. 1984 Nov;145:477-86.

21. Webb WL Jr, Gehi M. Electrolyte and fluid imbalance: neuropsychiatric manifestations. Psychosomatics. 1981 Mar;22(3):199-203.  

22. Linder J, Brismar K, Beck-Friis J, Saaf J, Wetterberg L.Calcium and magnesium concentrations in affective disorder: difference between plasma and serum in relation to symptoms. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 1989 Dec;80(6):527-37.

23. Levine J, Stein D, Rapoport A, Kurtzman L. High serum and cerebrospinal fluid Ca/Mg ratio in recently hospitalized acutely depressed patients. Neuropsychobiology. 1999;39(2):63-70.

24. Thys-Jacobs S. Micronutrients and the premenstrual syndrome: the case for calcium.
J Am Coll Nutr. 2000 Apr;19(2):220-7.

25. Goei GS, Abraham GE. Effect of a nutritional supplement, optivite, on symptoms of premenstrual tension. J Reprod Med. 1983 Aug;28(8):527-31.

26. Abraham GE.

Nutritional factors in the etiology of the premenstrual tension syndromes. J Reprod Med. 1983 Jul;28(7):446-64.

27. Alvir JM, Thys-Jacobs S. Premenstrual and menstrual symptom clusters and response to calcium treatment. Psychopharmacol Bull. 1991;27(2):145-8.