Low plasma magnesium in type 2 diabetes.
OBJECTIVE
Magnesium depletion has a negative impact on glucose homeostasis and insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetic patients. Low plasma magnesium concentration is a highly specific indicator of poor magnesium status. In the USA and some European countries, plasma magnesium concentrations have been found to be decreased in diabetics. The aim of this study was to compare plasma magnesium concentrations of type 2 diabetics and healthy controls in Switzerland.


METHODS
Plasma magnesium concentrations were determined in 109 type 2 diabetics and 156 age- and sex-matched healthy controls.


RESULTS
Mean (+/- SD) plasma magnesium concentrations of the diabetics and controls were 0.77 +/- 0.08 and 0.83 +/- 0.07 mmol/L, respectively (p <0.001). Plasma magnesium concentrations were below the normal reference range in 37.6% of the diabetic patients and 10.9% of the control subjects (p <0.001). Plasma magnesium was not correlated with glycemic control as measured by HbA1c.


CONCLUSIONS
Lower plasma magnesium concentrations and poor magnesium status are common in type 2 diabetics in Zurich, Switzerland.
Wälti
Monika K
MK
Laboratory for Human Nutrition, Institute of Food Science and Nutrition, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, Switzerland. monika.waelti@ilw.agrl.ethz.ch
Zimmermann
Michael B
MB
Spinas
Giatgen A
GA
Hurrell
Richard F
RF
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001786:Blood Glucose; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008275:Magnesium Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D001786:Blood Glucose