Magnesium and muscle performance in older persons: the InCHIANTI study.
BACKGROUND
The role of magnesium in maintaining muscle integrity and function in older adults is largely unknown.


OBJECTIVE
We aimed to investigate the relation between serum magnesium concentrations and muscle performance in older subjects.


METHODS
Data are from the baseline examination conducted between September 1998 and March 2000 of the InCHIANTI (aging in the Chianti area) study, a prospective epidemiologic survey of risk factors for late-life disability. From among 1453 randomly selected community residents completing a home interview, 1138 men (46%) and women (aged 66.7 +/- 15.2 y; x +/- SD) with complete data on muscle performance and serum magnesium who were not severely cognitively compromised and had no evidence of kidney disease or hypercalcemia were included in the analysis. Muscle performance was evaluated by grip strength, lower-leg muscle power, knee extension torque, and ankle extension isometric strength and was normalized for age and body mass index (BMI) within each sex.


RESULTS
After adjustment for age, sex, BMI, laboratory variables, presence of chronic diseases, muscle area, muscle density, and physical activity level, serum magnesium concentrations were significantly associated with indexes of muscle performance, including grip strength (beta = 2.0 +/- 0.5, P = 0.0002), lower-leg muscle power (beta = 8.8 +/- 2.7, P = 0.001), knee extension torque (beta = 31.2 +/- 7.9, P < 0.0001), and ankle extension strength (beta = 3.8 +/- 0.5, P < 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
The serum magnesium concentration is an independent correlate of muscle performance in older persons. Whether magnesium supplementation improves muscle function remains to be shown.
Dominguez
Ligia J
LJ
Geriatric Unit, Department of Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
Barbagallo
Mario
M
Lauretani
Fulvio
F
Bandinelli
Stefania
S
Bos
Angelo
A
Corsi
Anna Maria
AM
Simonsick
Eleanor M
EM
Ferrucci
Luigi
L
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D007866:Leg / Q000502:physiology; D008274:Magnesium / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies
D008274:Magnesium