Anxiety and stress among science students. Study of calcium and magnesium alterations.
Level 3 - non-randomized controlled study
Prospective observational before-and-after cohort study
What was done
Stress and anxiety levels were assessed in university science (chemistry) students during basal conditions and during examinations using validated questionnaires. Relationships were examined between questionnaire scores and urinary biomarkers, specifically magnesium and calcium excretion.
What was found
The abstract reports no numerical values or statistics. It notes that students experienced a significant increase in anxiety during exams, accompanied by an increase in urinary magnesium excretion. No significant increase in stress or urinary calcium excretion was detected during exams.
Why it matters
The study suggests that acute academic exam situations may specifically elevate anxiety and alter urinary magnesium excretion rather than causing generalized stress responses.
Limits
The abstract does not state the sample size, demographic characteristics, effect sizes, variance, or exact p-values. It is an observational pre-post study with no control group, and dietary intake or other potential confounders affecting urinary mineral excretion are not described in the abstract.
Cited by
- supports Chronic psychological stress and elevated cortisol levels lead to the depletion of magnesium in the body.