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September 8, 2007 11:27 AM Subscribe
Does magnesium really enhance your dreams?
I've heard from a couple different sources that magnesium makes your dreams more vivid; something to do with enhancing seratonin levels. Is there any truth to this? I've seen a couple threads on ask yahoo, with no real good answers. I'm male and 23, if it matters.
I've heard from a couple different sources that magnesium makes your dreams more vivid; something to do with enhancing seratonin levels. Is there any truth to this? I've seen a couple threads on ask yahoo, with no real good answers. I'm male and 23, if it matters.
Response by poster: nope, magnesium
(the second link is to a dream FAQ, but I don't remember how to link to a part of a page)
posted by craven_morhead at 11:31 AM on September 8, 2007
(the second link is to a dream FAQ, but I don't remember how to link to a part of a page)
posted by craven_morhead at 11:31 AM on September 8, 2007
I've taken combined calcium-magnesium supplements to help with sleep maintenance issues, and I've never noticed any changes in dream quality that could be attributed to them. Er, but I have always had very long and surreal dream narratives, so I might not be a good data point.
posted by cocoagirl at 11:39 AM on September 8, 2007
posted by cocoagirl at 11:39 AM on September 8, 2007
From your link:
"Vitamin B-6 is another important vitamin. It is a co-enzyme, which participates in over 60 enzymatic reactions involved in the metabolism of amino acids. It is involved in the production of several body proteins and neurotransmitters. It is particularly indispensable to the action of amino acid neurotransmitters, like Serotonin, Dopamine, Melatonin, and Norepinephrine, which effect brain function. It is also involved in the metabolism of Selenium, Calcium, and Magnesium."
posted by vito90 at 11:47 AM on September 8, 2007
"Vitamin B-6 is another important vitamin. It is a co-enzyme, which participates in over 60 enzymatic reactions involved in the metabolism of amino acids. It is involved in the production of several body proteins and neurotransmitters. It is particularly indispensable to the action of amino acid neurotransmitters, like Serotonin, Dopamine, Melatonin, and Norepinephrine, which effect brain function. It is also involved in the metabolism of Selenium, Calcium, and Magnesium."
posted by vito90 at 11:47 AM on September 8, 2007
I don’t know about Mg, but a lot of neurotransmitter precursers, such as 5-HTP, can give you crazy dreams. They can also kill your sex drive.
posted by ijoshua at 2:40 PM on September 8, 2007
posted by ijoshua at 2:40 PM on September 8, 2007
Yeah it is B6. A friend gave me a reprint of the paper jp021272 links to and a bottle of it once, best present ever.
posted by scodger at 3:06 PM on September 8, 2007
posted by scodger at 3:06 PM on September 8, 2007
5-htp will give you wacky dreams.
posted by the jam at 2:49 PM on September 8 [+] [!]
yup yup
posted by meeshell at 3:24 PM on September 8, 2007
posted by the jam at 2:49 PM on September 8 [+] [!]
yup yup
posted by meeshell at 3:24 PM on September 8, 2007
B6 will give you crazy dreams, but don't take too much of it; your piss will turn fluorescent yellow or even bright green.
posted by tehloki at 4:24 PM on September 8, 2007
posted by tehloki at 4:24 PM on September 8, 2007
Response by poster: As another (developing) data point; I found a magnesium supplement for $3 or something and have been on it for 2 days; had vivid dreams both nights, though it may also have something to do with it being the weekend and my sleeping in more. That said, I usually only remember one dream a week or so. Though I may try b6 if I stumble upon it.
posted by craven_morhead at 7:20 AM on September 9, 2007
posted by craven_morhead at 7:20 AM on September 9, 2007
I'd like to see some non-anecdotal data on magnesium; without placebo trials, the evidence towards vit.B6 is much more compelling.
posted by tehloki at 9:49 AM on September 9, 2007
posted by tehloki at 9:49 AM on September 9, 2007
Response by poster: I agree; I really like scdger's Christmas gift idea. I'll probably pick up some b6 if I see it.
Another dream last night though. It had wolves and horseback riding in it.
posted by craven_morhead at 5:59 AM on September 10, 2007
Another dream last night though. It had wolves and horseback riding in it.
posted by craven_morhead at 5:59 AM on September 10, 2007
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by vito90 at 11:28 AM on September 8, 2007