Magnesium May Play a Role in Reduced Diabetes Risk
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By VRP Staff
Harvard researchers have discovered a link between the amount of magnesium consumed and the risk of developing type-2 diabetes. Their findings are published in two studies in the January 2004 edition of the journal Diabetes Care.
The researchers undertook the current studies because past research indicates magnesium improves the bodys ability to use glucose and insulin. But little research exists on whether magnesium can prevent type-2 diabetes.
In the first study, researchers followed 85,060 women and 42,872 men who had no history of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or cancer at the studys start. Magnesium intake was evaluated using a validated food frequency questionnaire every 2-4 years. After 18 years of follow-up in women and 12 years in men, the study authors documented 4,085 and 1,333 cases of type-2 diabetes, respectively. After adjusting for age, body mass index, physical activity, family history of diabetes, smoking, alcohol consumption, and history of hypertension and high cholesterol at baseline, the researchers discovered that the higher the subjects magnesium intake, the lower the risk of developing type-2 diabetes.
In the second study, researchers studied 39,345 U.S. women 45 years and older with no previous history of cardiovascular disease, cancer, or type-2 diabetes. The women completed validated food frequency questionnaires in 1993 and were followed for an average of 6 years. Using the data, the researchers determined the risk of type-2 diabetes for the highest magnesium intake compared with the lowest intake. In a sample of 349 apparently healthy subjects, the researchers also measured plasma fasting insulin levels to examine their relation to magnesium intake.
During 222,523 person-years of follow-up, the study authors documented 918 confirmed cases of type-2 diabetes. The more magnesium the subjects consumed, the less their risk of developing this disease, independent of age and body mass index. This protective effect of magnesium was particularly strong for women with a high body mass index. In addition, women who consumed the most magnesium had lower insulin levels compared to women who consumed less magnesium.
According to the researchers, These findings support a protective role of higher intake of magnesium in reducing the risk of developing type-2 diabetes, especially in overweight women.
References:
Lopez-Ridaura R, Willett WC, Rimm EB, Liu S, Stampfer MJ, Manson JE, Hu FB. Magnesium Intake and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes in Men and Women. Diabetes Care. 2004 Jan;27(1):134-140.
Song Y, Manson JE, Buring JE, Liu S. Dietary Magnesium Intake in Relation to Plasma Insulin Levels and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes in Women. Diabetes Care. 2004 Jan;27(1):59-65.
Magnesium can be consumed as supplements (as in VRPs Opti-Mag and Calcium/Magnesium capsules).
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