Higher dietary magnesium intake is associated with significantly reduced epilepsy prevalence in US adults.
Association between dietary magnesium intake and epilepsy: The mediating role of composite dietary antioxidant index based on a cross-sectional study.
AI Summary
Key Findings
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Epilepsy affects 1.2 % of the US population, with one-third of cases being drug-resistant. Magnesium modulates neuronal excitability, and dietary insufficiency may elevate seizure risk. Systemic inflammation, quantified by the Composite Dietary Antioxidant Index (CDAI), represents a plausible mediator, but population-level evidence remains limited. OBJECTIVE: To investigate associations between dietary magnesium intake and epilepsy prevalence, assess CDAI-mediated pathways, and identify high-benefit subgroups. METHODS: Cross-sectional analysis included 33,486 adults (≥20 years) from NHANES 2013-2018. Dietary magnesium intake was derived from two 24-hour recalls and analyzed continuously (per SD) and categorically (quartiles). Epilepsy was self-reported. CDAI integrated six micronutrient intakes. Weighted multivariable logistic regression evaluated magnesium-epilepsy associations, adjusted for sociodemographic, clinical, and dietary covariates. Mediation analysis quantified CDAI's role. RESULTS: After full adjustment, each SD increase in magnesium intake was associated with 62 % lower epilepsy prevalence (OR = 0.38, 95 % CI: 0.21-0.70, p = 0.004). Quartile analysis revealed a significant inverse trend (p-trend = 0.032), with Q4 (highest intake) exhibiting the lowest risk (OR = 0.38, 95 % CI: 0.12-1.15). CDAI mediated 50.1 % of magnesium's protective effect (indirect effect: -0.478, 95 % CI: -1.031 to -0.166; p
Affiliation
Yali Lai
External References
- PubMed ID:
- 41705072
Comments
Sign in or create a free account to join the conversation.
Sign in to commentBe the first to comment.