Rubidium deficiency occurs in dialysis patients; may be the cause of their depression

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Tuesday, May 24, 2016 4:52 pm Email this article

Depression is a common problem in dialysis patients.

Dialysis patients have a rubidium deficiency, and rubidium supplementation has been shown to have an antidepressant effect according to Caterina Canavese, MD, an Italian researcher who has done research on this ultratrace mineral related to its antidepressant effects.

60% Lower Rubidium in the Central Nervous System,
13% Lower Rubidium in Serum

She notes that dialysis patients have 60% lower levels of rubidium in their central nervous system than normal patients—an average of 2250 ng per gram in dialysis patients versus 5490 ng per gram controls—and a 13% lower rubidium content in blood serum—an average of 304 mcg per liter versus 350 mcg per liter.

Rubidium is an ultra-trace mineral used by humans.

Shouldn’t rubidium supplementation be tried first in these patients?

Reference

Canavese C, DeCostanzi E, Branciforte L, Caropreso A, Nonnato A, and Sabbioni E. Depression in dialysis patients: rubidium supplementation before other drugs and encouragement? Kidney Int, 2001 Sep; 60(3): 1201-1202.

Author’s Contact Info

Caterina Canavese, MD
Nephrology and Transplantation
Department of Nephro-Urology
Amedeo Avogadro University,
Novara, Ospedale Maggiore della Carità
Corso Mazzini 18, IT–28100 Novara (Italy)
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

 

Articles on the same subject can be found here:

• Dialysis

• Rubidium