Writing in the journal IBRO Neuroscience Reports, researchers at Chengdu Medical College and the National Nuclear Corporation 416 Hospital in China studied data from the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2013–2018 to explore the connection between the essential mineral and the brain disorder.
“Findings from this study, which is representative at the national level, offer new proof that a greater intake of dietary magnesium in U.S. adults is notably linked to a lower prevalence of epilepsy,” the researchers wrote. “Significantly, it is shown that approximately 50% of this protective effect is mediated by reduced systemic inflammation.”
They added that the study offers the first large-scale epidemiological evidence linking dietary magnesium to reduced epilepsy prevalence in the overall population, “extending beyond acute therapeutic contexts.”
An inverse link
Epilepsy impacts over three million U.S. adults and nearly 500,000 children. The chronic neurological disorder leads to seizures, a decline in quality of life, social stigma, billions of dollars in healthcare costs and even a rise in mortality.
“Even with progress in pharmacotherapy, around one third of patients suffer from drug - resistant epilepsy, emphasizing the urgent requirement for new preventive and supplementary strategies,” the researchers wrote.
Scientists are looking toward magnesium as a potential solution. A lack of magnesium, often due to overconsumption of processed foods, can reduce seizure thresholds and intensify excitotoxicity. However, consuming magnesium can regulate NMDA receptors, calcium channels and GABAergic neurotransmission. Dietary magnesium is an essential nutrient critical for neural communication, ion channel control and antioxidant protection. It is possible the anti-epileptic effect of magnesium is due to its ability to reduce inflammation.
“Observational research has found an inverse link between magnesium levels and seizure frequency, and small trials have shown possible advantages of magnesium supplementation in cases of refractory epilepsy,” the researchers explained.
Study details
The researchers reviewed data from 33,486 adults 20 years old and over. Two 24-hour dietary recollections were recorded by the researchers, and they also measured intakes of six antioxidant micronutrients (magnesium, selenium, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E) into a composite score. Face-to-face interviews determined how many participants self-reported seizure events.
Although there is a lack of data regarding magnesium supplementation for combating epilepsy, the study showed a 62% lower risk of epilepsy in the participants with the greatest magnesium intake.
“Our findings suggest that modulating neuroinflammation and the subsequent seizure risk might be achievable by increasing the dietary antioxidant capacity, especially through magnesium,” the researchers wrote. “The potential of diets abundant in magnesium, such as those including leafy greens, nuts and whole grains, to serve as a preventive measure against epilepsy is supported by these results.”
They noted that future research and randomized trials should verify causal relationships as well as investigate possible interventions among high-risk groups.
Source: IBRO Neuroscience Reports. doi: 10.1016/j.ibneur.2026.02.005. “Association between dietary magnesium intake and epilepsy: The mediating role of composite dietary antioxidant index based on a cross-sectional study.” Authors: Yali Lai et al.
