Associations between magnesium depletion score and depression among individuals aged 20 to 60 years

Abstract

Background: Magnesium is closely associated with depression. The study aims to explore the relationship between magnesium depletion score (MDS), used to evaluate the body's magnesium deficiency status, and depression.

Methods: This population-based cross-sectional study used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2005-2018 and included adults aged 20 to 60 years. Depression was determined using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). MDS was a practical assessment instrument used to assess the status of magnesium deficiency. Multivariable logistic and restricted cubic spline models were used to assess the associations between MDS and depression.

Results: Among the 18247 adults, 1753 participants were diagnosed with depression. Multivariable logistic regression analysis indicated that when MDS was treated as a continuous variable, each one-unit increase in MDS was associated with an odds ratio (OR) for depression of 1.15 (1.04, 1.26). When MDS was considered a categorical variable, compared to participants with MDS of 0, the ORs for depression for those with MDS of 1, 2, and ≥3 were 1.03 (0.87, 1.21), 1.41 (1.12, 1.78), and 1.58 (1.06, 2.35), respectively. Restricted cubic spline analysis showed that there was no non-linear relationship between MDS and the prevalence of depression. Subgroup analyses indicated the positive associations between MDS and depression were generally similar in different populations.

Conclusions: MDS may be positively associated with the prevalence of depression. In the future, additional longitudinal studies are needed to validate our findings and investigate potential mechanisms.

Keywords: Depression; Magnesium deficiency; Magnesium depletion score; NHANES.