Hypomagnesemia in type II diabetes mellitus: effect of magnesium replacement therapy on glycaemic control and microalbuminuria

ABSTRACT

To study the effect of magnesium administration on the glycaemic control and microalbuminuria in type II diabetic patients with hypomagnesemia, 46 patients were included in this randomized clinical study. Patients were randomly divided into 2 groups Group l and Group II. Group I 26 patients [17 males and 9 females, their ages ranging from 39 to 64 years] received magnesium, first by IV route [Mg[2+] sulfate] to restore serum Mg[2+] level to normal, then orally [Mg[2+] citrate] to maintain normal serum level for one month. Group II. 20 patients [12 males and 8 females, their ages ranging from 35 to 64 years] did not receive magnesium. Results showed a high baseline fasting blood glucose, HBAlc and a 24 h urinary albumin excretion in all studied patients with no significant statistical differences between the two groups, P>0.05. Magnesium supplementation to group I patients was associated with significant decrease in fasting blood glucose [from 182.46 +/- 29.42 to 138.84 +/- 23.06 mg/dl. P<0.001] and HbAlc [from 12.12 +/- 2.18 to 9.1 +/- 1.66%. P<0.001] and a non-significant decrease in fasting insulin level [from 28.31 +/- 5.32 to 25.03 +/- 4.21 unit/mL. P>0.05] and a 24 hour urinary albumin excretion [from 185.35 +/- 91.75 to 165.21 +/- 63.3 mg/day, p>0.05]. On the other hand, there was no significant difference in group II patients, before and after receiving placebo. Thus, short-term restoration of serum magnesium level to normal seems to have a beneficial effect on glycaemic control but have no significant effect on microalbuminuria in NIDDM patients with hypomagnesemia. Further studies, however, are needed to verify the benefit of long-term magnesium supplemented diets on diabetic control and possibly on the progression of microalbuminuria