The Association Between Magnesium Depletion Score and Depression Among Men in Central Sudan: A Community-Based...

Depression is a global public health concern with significant morbidity and mortality. There are a few published reports on the association between the magnesium depletion score (MDS) and depression. In this study, we aimed to assess the level of association between MDS and depression among men in central Sudan.

A multistage community-based cross-sectional survey included adult men in central Sudan from April to June 2025. A face-to-face interview was used to collect sociodemographic data and medical history. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) was used to assess depression among men. The MDS was computed. Binary multivariable and modified Poisson regression analyses were performed.

Three hundred and twelve men were enrolled. Their median (IQR) age was 50.0 (34.0-64.0) years. Multivariable Poisson analysis showed a positive association between the MDS and the PHQ-9 score when entering the MDS as either a continuous variable (adjusted relative risk [ARR] = 1.23, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.15-1.31) or a categorical variable (the ARR for medium and high MDS were 1.41 (95% CI = 1.23-1.61) and 2.09 (95% CI = 1.60-2.73), respectively). Multivariable binary regression showed a positive association between MDS (continuous) and depression, with an adjusted odds ratio (AOR) of 2.80 (95% CI = 1.35-3.00) and depression. Likewise, medium (AOR = 2.80, 95% CI = 1.28-6.10) and high (AOR = 16.71, 95% CI = 3.91-71.33) MDS were associated with depression.

This study showed a positive association between MDS and depression, indicating a need to further assess the possibility of MDS in depression.