Association of Oral Magnesium with Type-2 Diabetes

Sales CH, Pedrosa LF, Lima JG, Lemos TM, Colli C. Influence of magnesium status and magnesium intake on the blood glucose control in patients with type 2 diabetes. Clin Nutr. 2011 Jan 31. [Epub ahead of print]

 

Fifty-one type 2 diabetics with an age range of 53.6 ± 10.5 yr were assessed using three 24-hour magnesium intake recalls, urine, plasma and erythrocyte magnesium, fasting and 2-hour postprandial glucose, glycohemoglobin (HbA1C), microalbuminuria, proteinuria, and serum and urine creatinine.

 

Seventy-seven percent of participants presented 1 or more magnesium status parameters below the low normal range. Magnesium intake was inadequate in most subjects (82 percent). According to the researchers, “The results presented here show that magnesium intake by the study population was inadequate and that a high percentage of individuals presented alterations in the status of this mineral.”

 

Subjects had evidence of poor blood glucose control with fasting glucose of 8.1 ± 3.7 mmol/L or 145 ± 66 mg/dL (reference range: 3.6–5.8 mmol/L or 64.8–104.4 mg/dL); 2-hour postprandial glucose of 11.1 ± 5.1 mmol/L (200 ± 91 mg/dL) (reference range: <10 mmol/L or <180 mg/dl), and HbA1C of 11.4 ± 3.0%. The parameters that influenced fasting glucose were urine, plasma, and dietary magnesium, while plasma magnesium was influenced by creatinine clearance.

 

 

 

This study set out to assess magnesium intake and magnesium levels in patients with type 2 diabetes. More than 325 magnesium-dependent enzymes allow magnesium to function as a cofactor in a wide range of metabolic reactions. The researchers in this study acknowledge that insulin function is dependent on magnesium, which is responsible for the activation of insulin receptors and for stimulation of proteins and substrates involved in insulin signaling. The researchers cite previous research suggesting that magnesium intake of patients with diabetes is very often below recommended levels. They cite evidence that low levels of magnesium may influence the evolution of the disease by generating further complications.

 

The incidence of diabetes in the United States is 7.8 percent for diagnosed and undiagnosed cases.¹ The National Academy of Sciences has determined that most American men only obtain about 80 percent of the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of magnesium, and women average only 70 percent.²

 

In this study, as noted above, 77 percent of participants presented one or more magnesium status parameters below the low normal range, and 63 percent were found to have low concentrations of plasma magnesium.

 

The researchers found that the higher the fasting and 2-hour glucose levels, the lower the concentration of plasma magnesium. They also found that long-term high blood sugar levels cause loss of magnesium in the urine, putting diabetic patients at risk for complications (eg, kidney pathology) and may exacerbate and aggravate other conditions associated with diabetes. As the kidney becomes impaired in diabetes, magnesium can be lost magnesium in the urine, and glucose in the blood can rise further.

 

What this study means for clinicians in practice is that almost everyone is susceptible to magnesium deficiency, just as almost everyone is susceptible to diabetes. Since magnesium is such a powerful nutrient, driving more than 325 magnesium-dependent enzymes, its importance cannot be emphasized enough. While encouraging all patients to maintain a good diet (high in fiber, protein, complex carbohydrates, etc.) exercise daily, get adequate rest and minimize stress, it would be wise to monitor daily magnesium intake from the diet and ensure it is above 500 mg daily, supplementing those who need it.

 

Table: Magnesium Content of Selected Foods

From The Magnesium Miracle (Ballantine Books, 2007)