ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Nutr.
Sec. Clinical Nutrition
Volume 12 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fnut.2025.1676413
Magnesium Deficiency Score Predicts Erectile Dysfunction Risk and Mortality: A Population-Based Analysis of NHANES 2001-2004
Provisionally accepted
- Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
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Background: Magnesium deficiency is associated with numerous cardiovascular and metabolic disorders, which are established risk factors for erectile dysfunction (ED). However, the role of the magnesium depletion score (MDS)—a composite measure of magnesium status—in relation to ED and subsequent mortality remains unclear. Methods: We analyzed data from 3,917 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2001–2004. Weighted multivariable logistic and Cox proportional hazards models were used to examine associations between MDS and ED and between MDS and mortality, respectively. Sensitivity analyses included subgroup analyses and propensity score matching. Results: Of the participants, 1,090 were identified with ED. During follow-up, 654 deaths occurred. After full adjustment, each 1-point increase in MDS was associated with a 37% higher prevalence of ED (OR = 1.37, 95% CI: 1.16–1.62). Among those with ED, higher MDS was also associated with a 30% increased risk of all-cause mortality (HR = 1.30, 95% CI: 1.17 – 1.45). Sensitivity analyses supported the robustness of these findings. Conclusion: Higher MDS is significantly associated with both increased prevalence of ED and greater all-cause mortality in men with ED. These results underscore the importance of assessing magnesium status as a potential target for risk stratification and nutritional intervention in the management of ED.
Keywords: Erectile Dysfunction, Sexual dysfunction, Magnesium Deficiency, Mortality, NHANES
Received: 30 Jul 2025; Accepted: 08 Oct 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Chen, Kangqiang, Xie, Lin, Liu, Zhu and Zheng. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Shaoxing Zhu, zsxing2005@126.com
Huaiying Zheng, uro2159@126.com
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