Magnesium therapy in type 1 diabetes. A double blind study concerning the effects on kidney function and serum lipid levels.

To test the hypothesis that magnesium depletion might be of importance for the development of vascular complications in diabetes mellitus we performed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study during 12 months with 20-30 mmol/day of oral magnesium hydroxide in 28 type 1 diabetic patients. Urinary albumin excretion, Cr-EDTA-clearance and certain blood cardiovascular risk factors were measured. At the end of the study there were no significant differences of these parameters between the two groups, except that serum triglyceride values increased in three magnesium treated patients who either showed an increase in blood glycosylated hemoglobin values or body weight during the study.