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

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.

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.

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.

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.