Sufficient Magnesium Intake Reduces Retinal Vein Occlusion Risk: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Analysis

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Retinal vein occlusion (RVO) is a major cause of vision loss globally. Although magnesium (Mg) is crucial for vascular health, its association with RVO risk is unknown. Thus, we aimed to further examine this association. Methods: This cross-sectional study included participants of the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2017-2021 aged ≥19 years (n = 16,358). RVO diagnosis was based on fundus imaging or was self-reported. Based on their daily Mg intake, we categorized participants into low (<120 mg), intermediate (men: 120-300 mg; women: 120-400 mg), and sufficient (men: ≥300 mg; women: ≥400 mg) intake groups and compared their characteristics across groups. Results: RVO prevalence was 0.7%. Compared to the non-RVO group, the RVO group was characterized by older individuals, fewer current alcohol consumers, a higher prevalence of hypertension and chronic kidney disease, and a lower intake of fiber, iron, calcium, vitamin E, and Mg. After full adjustment, sufficient Mg intake was significantly associated with a 64% reduced risk of RVO (odds ratio [OR] 0.36, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.18-0.71, p = 0.003). This association was particularly notable among individuals aged 19-59 years (OR 0.18, 95% CI 0.04-0.82, p = 0.027), those with hypertension (OR 0.29, 95% CI 0.13-0.67, p = 0.003), and those without glaucoma (OR 0.33, 95% CI 0.15-0.71, p = 0.004). Conclusions: Sufficient Mg intake may reduce RVO risk among adults aged <60 years, individuals with hypertension, and those without glaucoma. Further research should validate the benefits of Mg supplementation in preventing RVO.

Keywords: age factor; hypertension; magnesium; national health and nutrition survey; retinal vein occlusion.

Figure 1

Flowchart of participant selection.

Figure 2

Risk of retinal vein occlusion stratified by daily magnesium intake. Model 1: unadjusted. Model 2: adjusted for age, sex, and BMI. Model 3: adjusted for model 2 covariates plus smoking, alcohol consumption, and comorbidities. Model 4: adjusted for model 3 covariates plus daily nutrient intake. Bold font for p-value indicates statistical significance. OR—odds ratio; CI—confidence interval; BMI—body mass index.

Figure 3

Dose–response analyses of the association between dietary magnesium intake and the risk of retinal vein occlusion. Error bars indicate confidence intervals.

Figure 4

Forest plots of odds ratios for retinal vein occlusion associated with magnesium intake, stratified by age and presence of hypertension and glaucoma. Bold font for p-value and blue error bars in the forest plot indicate statistical significance. OR—odds ratio; CI—confidence interval.