Plasma magnesium concentration as a risk factor in diabetic retinopathy

This study is performed to show the relation between magnesium status and diabetic retinopathy. It is carried out on 55 subjects, 15 normal healthy subjects, 20 diabetic subjects free from retinopathy and 20 diabetic subjects with retinopathy. Serum and urine magnesium level were measured in all patients. The mean serum magnesium level in diabetics was lower than in controls, it was insignificant in patients without retinopathy and highly significant in patients with retinopathy. This may suggest a correlation between hypomagnesaemia and the development of microangiopathy in diabetics