Oral magnesium supplementation reduces ambulatory blood pressure in patients with mild hypertension.
BACKGROUND
Accumulating evidence implicates a role of Mg(2+) in the pathophysiology of essential hypertension. Previous studies evaluating the antihypertensive efficacy of Mg(2+) supplementation gave contradictory results. This study aimed to investigate the effect of oral Mg(2+) supplementation on 24-h blood pressure (BP) and intracellular ion status in patients with mild hypertension.


METHODS
A total of 48 patients with mild uncomplicated hypertension participated in the study. Among them, 24 subjects were assigned to 600 mg of pidolate Mg(2+) daily in addition to lifestyle recommendations for a 12-week period and another 24 age- and sex-matched controls were only given lifestyle recommendations. At baseline and study-end (12 weeks) ambulatory BP monitoring, determination of serum and intracellular ion levels, and 24-h urinary collections for determination of urinary Mg(2+) were performed in all study subjects.


RESULTS
In the Mg(2+) supplementation group, small but significant reductions in mean 24-h systolic and diastolic BP levels were observed, in contrast to control group (-5.6 +/- 2.7 vs. -1.3 +/- 2.4 mm Hg, P < 0.001 and -2.8 +/- 1.8 vs. -1 +/- 1.2 mm Hg, P = 0.002, respectively). These effects of Mg(2+) supplementation were consistent in both daytime and night-time periods. Serum Mg(2+) levels and urinary Mg(2+) excretion were significantly increased in the intervention group. Intracellular Mg(2+) and K(+) levels were also increased, while intracellular Ca(2+) and Na(+) levels were decreased in the intervention group. None of the intracellular ions were significantly changed in the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that oral Mg(2+) supplementation is associated with small but consistent ambulatory BP reduction in patients with mild hypertension.
Hatzistavri
Lina S
LS
Section of Nephrology and Hypertension, 1st Department of Medicine, AHEPA Hospital, Aristotle University, Thessaloniki, Greece. psarafidis11@yahoo.gr
Sarafidis
Pantelis A
PA
Georgianos
Panagiotis I
PI
Tziolas
Ioannis M
IM
Aroditis
Costas P
CP
Zebekakis
Pantelis E
PE
Pikilidou
Maria I
MI
Lasaridis
Anastasios N
AN
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008274:Magnesium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D008274:Magnesium