Dietary magnesium intake in type 2 diabetes.
BACKGROUND
Magnesium deficiency is common in type 2 diabetes and may have a negative impact on glucose homeostasis and insulin resistance, as well as on the evolution of complications such as retinopathy, thrombosis and hypertension.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the dietary magnesium intake of patients with type 2 diabetes in Zurich, Switzerland and to compare the magnesium intake of diabetic and non-diabetic subjects.


METHODS
The magnesium intake of 97 randomly selected patients with type 2 diabetes and 100 healthy, non-diabetic controls matched for age and sex was estimated using a diet history method. During winter and summer periods, mean daily magnesium intakes were calculated from detailed information given by the test subjects about their eating habits over the previous 2 months. The calculations were performed using EBIS, a computer program based on a German nutrient data base (BLS 2.3), with food items specific to Switzerland added or directly analysed when necessary.


RESULTS
The mean+/-s.d. daily magnesium intake of the male diabetic and male control subjects was 423.2+/-103.1 and 421.1+/-111.0 mg, respectively. The mean daily magnesium intake of the female diabetic and female control subjects was 419.1+/-109.7 and 383.5+/-109.7 mg, respectively. There were no significant differences in daily magnesium intake between the diabetic and the non-diabetic subjects and mean intakes in both groups exceeded Swiss recommended dietary intakes.


CONCLUSIONS
Dietary intake of magnesium appears sufficient in Swiss adults with type 2 diabetes and is unlikely to contribute to the aetiology of magnesium deficiency.


BACKGROUND
The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, Switzerland.
Wälti
M K
MK
Laboratory for Human Nutrition, Institute of Food Science, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, Switzerland. monika.waelti@ilw.agrl.ethz.ch
Zimmermann
M B
MB
Spinas
G A
GA
Jacob
S
S
Hurrell
R F
RF
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D005504:Food Analysis; D006801:Humans; D008274:Magnesium / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood*; D008275:Magnesium Deficiency / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D013557:Switzerland
D008274:Magnesium