title: Magnesium intake, C-reactive protein, and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in middle-aged and older U.S. women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to examine whether and to what extent magnesium intake is related to systemic inflammation and the metabolic syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a cross-sectional analysis on data from 11,686 women > or =45 years of age participating in the Women's Health Study who were initially free of cardiovascular disease and cancer and had no use of postmenopausal hormones.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In age- and BMI-adjusted analyses, magnesium intake was inversely associated with plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations; CRP concentrations were 12% lower in the highest intake quintile than in the lowest (P for trend <0.0001). This association was not appreciably altered by further adjustment for other potential confounding variables including dietary factors; the mean CRP concentrations for ascending quintiles of magnesium intake were 1.50, 1.39, 1.35, 1.34, and 1.31 mg/l (P for trend = 0.0003). This inverse association was stronger for women with a BMI > or =25 kg/m(2) (P < 0.0001 for interaction) and those who were current or past smokers (P = 0.0009 for interaction). After adjustment for confounding lifestyle and dietary factors, women in the highest quintile of magnesium intake had 27% lower risk of the metabolic syndrome (defined according to the National Cholesterol Education Program criteria) compared with those in the lowest quintile of intake (odds ratio 0.73 [95% CI 0.60-0.88], P for trend = 0.0008).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that magnesium intake is inversely associated with systemic inflammation and the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in middle-aged and older women.
authors.affiliation: Division of Preventive Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 900 Commonwealth Avenue East, Boston, MA 02215, USA. ysong@hsph.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Yiqing
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Paul M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Ridker
authors.forename: JoAnn E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Manson
authors.forename: Nancy R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.forename: Julie E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Buring
authors.forename: Simin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D002149:Energy Intake; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000453:epidemiology; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D008274:Magnesium; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D008274:Magnesium