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Does higher magnesium intake prevent people from developing metabolic syndrome, and safeguard against diabetes and coronary heart disease?

For a number of years, metabolic syndrome has been associated with increased risk for coronary heart disease and diabetes, and prevalence is increasing with approximately a quarter of Americans with this condition as of 2004.

The current epidemic of childhood obesity seems to correlate with an alarming rise in type 2 diabetes. A comprehensive study undertaken by The University of Virginia is the first to report lower dietary magnesium intake in obese children compared with lean children. Magnesium is an important cofactor for enzymes involved in carbohydrate metabolism.

The objective was to determine whether obese children exhibit serum or dietary deficiency of magnesium and its potential association with insulin resistance. Measurements of serum magnesium, insulin sensitivity, dietary magnesium intake and body composition were taken on 24 obese, nondiabetic children (BMI 85th percentile) and 24 sex-and puberty-matched control subjects of the same BMI.

Researchers concluded that there is an association between magnesium deficiency and insulin resistance during childhood. They suggest magnesium supplementation or increased intake of magnesium-rich foods may be an important tool in the prevention of type 2 diabetes in obese children.

Earlier studies on adults performed over a 15 year period have suggested that magnesium may directly regulate cellular glucose metabolism through its role as a cofactor for a number of relevant enzymes and may influence insulin secretion by interacting with cellular calcium homeostasis. In addition, epidemiological studies and clinical trials on adults have indicated that increased magnesium intake may improve insulin sensitivity.

The present study provides the first evidence showing that magnesium deficiency is associated with insulin resistance in children.

Reference: http://care.diabetesjournals.org/cgi/content/full/28/5/1175
Diabetes Care 28:1175-1181, 2005
Magnesium Deficiency Is Associated With Insulin Resistance in Obese Children
© 2005 by the American Diabetes Association, Inc.
Milagros G. Huerta, MD 1, James N. Roemmich, PHD2, Marit L. Kington, MS1, Viktor E. Bovbjerg, PHD, MPH3, Arthur L. Weltman, PHD4, Viola F. Holmes, MS, RD5, James T. Patrie, MS3, Alan D. Rogol, MD, PHD1 and Jerry L. Nadler, MD4
1 Department of Pediatrics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
2 Department of Pediatrics, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York
3 Department of Health Evaluation Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
4 Department of Internal Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
5 General Clinical Research Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia