ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: To evaluate the effect of magnesium (Mg) replacement on insulin resistance and cardiovascular risk factors in women with metabolic syndrome (MS) without diabetes. METHODS: This 12-week clinical randomized double-blind study compared the effects of 400 mg/day of Mg with those of a placebo (n = 72) on fasting glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, lipid profile and CRP. Mg was measured in serum (SMg) and in mononuclear cells (MMg). RESULTS: Hypomagnesemia (SMg < 1.7 mg/dL) was seen in 23.2% of patients and intracellular depletion in 36.1% of patients. The MMg means were lower in patients with obesity (0.94 ± 0.54 µg/mg vs. 1.19 ± 0.6 µg/mg, P = 0.04), and insulin resistance (0.84 ± 0.33 µg/mg vs. 1.14 ± 0.69 µg/mg, P < 0.05). Mg replacement did not alter SMg (1.82 ± 0.14 mg/dL vs. 1.81 ± 0.16 mg/dL, P = 0.877) and tended to increment MMg (0.90 ± 0.40 µg/mg vs. 1.21 ± 0.73 µg/mg, P = 0.089). HOMA-IR did not alter in interventions nor in placebo group (3.2 ± 2.0 to 2.8 ± 1.9, P = 0.368; 3.6 ± 1.9 to 3.2 ± 1.8, respectively), neither did other metabolic parameters. CONCLUSION: Serum and intracellular Mg depletion is common in patients with MS; however, Mg replacement in recommended dosage did not increase significantly Mg levels, neither reduced insulin resistance or metabolic control.
ABSTRACT
This cross sectional study evaluated serum (SMg) and intramononuclear (MMg) magnesium in patients with metabolic syndrome without diabetes and correlated them with cardiovascular risk factors. 72 patients and 57 controls (blood donors) were studied. Hypomagnesemia (SMg<1.7 mg/dL) was seen in 23.2% and intracellular depletion in 36.1% of the patients. SMg and MMg means were significantly lower in patients than in controls: 1.80+/-0.18 mg/dL vs. 2.43+/-0.43 mg/dL and 0.98+/-0.55 microg/mg vs. 1.67+/-0.64 microg/mg of protein (P<0.001). Inverse correlation was observed between, SMg and MMg with BMI; SMg with systolic blood pressure and waist circumference in women. Patients with acanthosis nigricans had lower SMg (1.75+/-0.18 mg/dL vs. 1.85+/- 0.18 mg/dL, P<0.05). Non-white people had lower SMg (1.78+/-0.16 mg/dL vs. 1.92+/-0.24 mg/dL, P=0.007) and MMg (0.95+/-0.59 microg/mg vs. 1.13+/-0.42 microg/mg, P=0.03). Patients with IR showed lower MgM means (0.84+/-0.33 microg/mg vs. 1.14+/-0.69 microg/mg, P<0.05). The same occurred in patients with low HDL-c levels (0.92+/-0.46 microg/mg vs. 1.20+/-0.70 microg/mg, P=0.03), and those with moderate and severe hepatic steatosis (0.77+/-0.29 microg/mg vs. 1.21+/-0.80 microg/mg, P<0.05). In conclusion, magnesium depletion in serum and mononuclear cells is common in obese people with metabolic syndrome, and it is more evident in non-white people with insulin resistance. This depletion may contribute to a post-receptor insulin resistance.
