Life Extension Foundation® Sponsors Magnesium Sulfate Study at University of Miami

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., July 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Life Extension Foundation, a pioneer in funding the latest anti-aging research and integrative health therapies, is sponsoring a study in conjunction with the research division at the University of Miami under the direction of John E. Lewis, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, entitled A double blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled study of an IV infusion of Magnesium Sulfate vs. 5% Dextrose in a crossover design in male and female volunteers with treatment resistant depression.  This study was placed on the ClinicalTrials.gov website (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01597167?term=magnesium+sulfate+depression&rank=1) and is currently recruiting for participants. 

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120223/FL58611LOGO-b ) 

This clinical trial will assess the effectiveness of an intravenous magnesium sulfate infusion in participants who display symptoms of treatment resistant mild and moderate depression.  Each of the 20 subjects will be randomized in a double-blinded fashion to receive either an intravenous infusion of magnesium sulfate or placebo containing 5% dextrose.  This will be followed by a washout period and then crossover to receive the product that was not initially received.

"The magnesium deficient status will be determined via assessment of the magnesium level in the blood and urine before and after each infusion," says Dr. Steven Hirsh, Life Extension clinical research director of clinical research. "The effectiveness of the infusion will be determined through scores attained on a rating scale for depression as well as a patient health questionnaire for depression."  A correlation will then be conducted with levels of magnesium and these scores.

Life Extension Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to finding new scientific methods to enhance and expand the healthy human life span. It funds research programs aimed at developing new anti-aging therapies and combating such age-related killers as heart disease, stroke, cancer, and Alzheimer's. The Life Extension Foundation has donated over $100 million to anti-aging and disease prevention studies.

Editor's Note: For interviews with study authors, contact Sheldon Baker, Life Extension director of public relations at 954.202.7739 or 954.790.5512, or by email at [email protected].

SOURCE Life Extension Foundation