Skip to main content

Main menu

  • HOME
  • ARTICLES
    • Current Issue
    • Ahead of Print
    • Archives
    • Abstracts In Press
    • Special Issue Archive
    • Subject Collections
  • INFO FOR
    • Authors
    • Reviewers
    • Call For Papers
    • Subscribers
    • Advertisers
  • SUBMIT
    • Manuscript
    • Peer Review
  • ABOUT
    • The JABFM
    • The Editing Fellowship
    • Editorial Board
    • Indexing
    • Editors' Blog
  • CLASSIFIEDS
  • Other Publications
    • abfm

User menu

Search

  • Advanced search
American Board of Family Medicine
  • Other Publications
    • abfm
American Board of Family Medicine

American Board of Family Medicine

Advanced Search

  • HOME
  • ARTICLES
    • Current Issue
    • Ahead of Print
    • Archives
    • Abstracts In Press
    • Special Issue Archive
    • Subject Collections
  • INFO FOR
    • Authors
    • Reviewers
    • Call For Papers
    • Subscribers
    • Advertisers
  • SUBMIT
    • Manuscript
    • Peer Review
  • ABOUT
    • The JABFM
    • The Editing Fellowship
    • Editorial Board
    • Indexing
    • Editors' Blog
  • CLASSIFIEDS
  • JABFM on Bluesky
  • JABFM On Facebook
  • JABFM On Twitter
  • JABFM On YouTube
ReplyCorrespondence

Response: Re: Magnesium Intake and Depression in Adults

Emily K. Tarleton and Benjamin Littenberg
The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine September 2015, 28 (5) 683-684; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3122/jabfm.2015.05.150194
Emily K. Tarleton
Center for Clinical and Translational Science University of Vermont Burlington, VT
MS, RD
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • For correspondence: Emily.tarleton@uvm.edu
Benjamin Littenberg
Center for Clinical and Translational Science University of Vermont Burlington, VT
MD
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • For correspondence: Emily.tarleton@uvm.edu
  • Article
  • References
  • Info & Metrics
  • PDF
Loading

To the Editor: We thank Slumiers and colleagues1 for highlighting the challenges of interpreting outcomes from cross-sectional, population-based data. Preclinical and clinical studies indicate low magnesium intake may be associated with depressive symptoms. For instance, Singewald et al2 reported mice consuming a diet with very low magnesium content—consisting of only 10% of the daily requirement—showed depressive behavior. Therefore we chose to divide magnesium intake into quintiles to explore the possibility that an association might be seen only in those consuming much less than the estimated average requirement. Sluimers and colleagues are correct that dietary recall is not a perfect marker of hypomagnesemia. That the association is still significant despite the variation introduced by recall methods supports its robustness. Further, intake is amenable to intervention by patients, providers, and policymakers, making it an especially valuable target of analysis.

We agree that social and medical factors are stronger correlates of depression than magnesium intake, as Table 2 (p. 253) shows. We included these variables in the multivariate analysis to explore the possibility that they confound the association of magnesium intake and depression, as suggested by the correspondents.3 That magnesium intake remains significantly associated with depression in the models argues against confounding by these variables. Of course, residual confounding by unmeasured variables is a possibility, which is why prospective randomized trials are needed. We acknowledge that the relationship between magnesium and depression may be bidirectional, and we can only report an association. However, our study adds to the overall body of literature in support of exploring this relationship further. Finally, we see no virtue in a nonrandomized prospective trial because any such study would be subject to the same biases the authors point out in their letter.

References

  1. 1.↵
    1. Sluimers D,
    2. Willemse NL,
    3. Landsmeer MLA
    . Re: magnesium intake and depression in adults. J Am Board Fam Med 2015;28:683-3.
    OpenUrlFREE Full Text
  2. 2.↵
    1. Singewald N,
    2. Sinner C,
    3. Hetzenauer A,
    4. Sartori SB,
    5. Murck H
    . Magnesium-deficient diet alters depression- and anxiety-related behavior in mice–influence of desipramine and Hypericum perforatum extract. Neuropharmacology 2004;47:1189–97.
    OpenUrlCrossRefPubMed
  3. 3.↵
    1. Tarleton EK,
    2. Littenberg B
    . Magnesium intake and depression in adults. J Am Board Fam Med 2015;28:249–56.
    OpenUrlAbstract/FREE Full Text
PreviousNext
Back to top

In this issue

The Journal of the American Board of Family     Medicine: 28 (5)
The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine
Vol. 28, Issue 5
September-October 2015
  • Table of Contents
  • Table of Contents (PDF)
  • Cover (PDF)
  • Index by author
  • Back Matter (PDF)
  • Front Matter (PDF)
Print
Download PDF
Article Alerts
Sign In to Email Alerts with your Email Address
Email Article

Thank you for your interest in spreading the word on American Board of Family Medicine.

NOTE: We only request your email address so that the person you are recommending the page to knows that you wanted them to see it, and that it is not junk mail. We do not capture any email address.

Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
Response: Re: Magnesium Intake and Depression in Adults
(Your Name) has sent you a message from American Board of Family Medicine
(Your Name) thought you would like to see the American Board of Family Medicine web site.
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
8 + 7 =
Solve this simple math problem and enter the result. E.g. for 1+3, enter 4.
Citation Tools
Response: Re: Magnesium Intake and Depression in Adults
Emily K. Tarleton, Benjamin Littenberg
The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine Sep 2015, 28 (5) 683-684; DOI: 10.3122/jabfm.2015.05.150194

Citation Manager Formats

  • BibTeX
  • Bookends
  • EasyBib
  • EndNote (tagged)
  • EndNote 8 (xml)
  • Medlars
  • Mendeley
  • Papers
  • RefWorks Tagged
  • Ref Manager
  • RIS
  • Zotero
Share
Response: Re: Magnesium Intake and Depression in Adults
Emily K. Tarleton, Benjamin Littenberg
The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine Sep 2015, 28 (5) 683-684; DOI: 10.3122/jabfm.2015.05.150194
Twitter logo Facebook logo Mendeley logo
  • Tweet Widget
  • Facebook Like
  • Google Plus One

Jump to section

  • Article
    • References
  • References
  • Info & Metrics
  • PDF

Related Articles

  • Re: Magnesium Intake and Depression in Adults
  • Google Scholar

Cited By...

  • No citing articles found.
  • Google Scholar

More in this TOC Section

  • Re: Factors Influencing Patient Confidence in Screening Mammography
  • Re: Physician and Advanced Practice Clinician Burnout in Rural and Urban Settings
  • Hepatitis C Treatment Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Among Primary Care Providers—Los Angeles County, 2023
Show more Correspondence

Similar Articles

Navigate

  • Home
  • Current Issue
  • Past Issues

Authors & Reviewers

  • Info For Authors
  • Info For Reviewers
  • Submit A Manuscript/Review

Other Services

  • Get Email Alerts
  • Classifieds
  • Reprints and Permissions

Other Resources

  • Forms
  • Contact Us
  • ABFM News

© 2025 American Board of Family Medicine

Powered by HighWire