Magnesium intake is related to improved insulin homeostasis in the framingham offspring cohort.
OBJECTIVE
Higher dietary intake of magnesium may protect against development of type 2 diabetes. The aim of this study was to examine the association between dietary magnesium intake and metabolic risk factors for diabetes.


METHODS
We examined cross-sectional associations between magnesium intake and fasting glucose and insulin, 2-hour post-challenge plasma glucose and insulin, and insulin resistance assessed by the homeostasis model (HOMA-IR) in 1223 men and 1485 women without diabetes from the Framingham Offspring cohort. Magnesium intake was assessed by a food frequency questionnaire and magnesium intake was categorized into quintile categories. Geometric mean insulin, glucose, 2-hour post challenge plasma glucose and insulin concentrations and HOMA-IR were estimated across quintile categories of magnesium intake using Generalized Linear Models.


RESULTS
After adjustment for potential confounding factors, magnesium intake was inversely associated with fasting insulin (mean: 29.9 vs 26.7 microU/mL in the lowest vs highest quintiles of magnesium intake; P trend <0.001), post-glucose challenge plasma insulin (86.4 vs 72 microU/mL; P trend <0.001), and HOMA-IR (7.0 vs 6.2; P trend <0.001). No significant association was found between magnesium intake and fasting glucose or 2-hour post challenge glucose.


CONCLUSIONS
Improved insulin sensitivity may be one mechanism by which higher dietary magnesium intake may reduce the risk of developing type 2 DM.
Rumawas
Marcella E
ME
Nutritional Epidemiology Program, JM USDA HNRC at Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111-1524, USA.
McKeown
Nicola M
NM
Rogers
Gail
G
Meigs
James B
JB
Wilson
Peter W F
PW
Jacques
Paul F
PF
D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005215:Fasting; D005260:Female; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism*; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008274:Magnesium / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D008274:Magnesium