Low serum magnesium concentrations predict increase in left ventricular mass over 5 years independently of common cardiovascular risk factors.
OBJECTIVE
Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is a significant predictor of adverse cardiovascular events. Experimental studies suggest a pathophysiological role of magnesium (Mg(2+)) in the development of arterial hypertension and LVH.


METHODS
In subjects with complete echocardiographic data from the population-based longitudinal "Study of Health in Pomerania" (n=1 348), the difference in left ventricular mass (LVM) over 5 years (echocardiography) was analyzed in relationship to serum Mg(2+) at baseline.


RESULTS
Mg(2+) at baseline (0.790 ± 0.003 mmol/l, mean ± SEM) inversely correlated with the difference in LVM over 5 years (p<0.0001, females: p<0.002, males: p<0.024). In the lowest Mg(2+)-quintile (Mg(2+)<=0.73 mmol/l), LVM (187.4 ± 3.1 g at baseline) increased by 14.9 ± 1.2 g, while in the highest Mg(2+)-quintile (Mg(2+)>=0.85 mmol/l) LVM (186.7 ± 3.4 g at baseline) decreased by -0.5 ± 2.8 g (p<0.0001 between quintiles). By multivariable analysis including several cardiovascular risk factors and antihypertensive treatment, serum Mg(2+) was associated with the increase in LVM at a statistically high significant level (p<0.0001). LVM after 5 years was significantly higher in subjects within the lower Mg(2+)-quintiles. This association remained highly significant after adjustment for several cardiovascular risk factors including arterial hypertension and diabetes mellitus.


CONCLUSIONS
Hypomagnesemia is one of the strongest predictors of gain in LVM over the following 5 years.
Reffelmann
Thorsten
T
Klinik und Poliklinik für Innere Medizin B, Universitätsklinikum der Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Universität Greifswald, Friedrich-Löffler Str. 23 a, 17487 Greifswald, Germany. ThorstenReffelmann@web.de
Dörr
Marcus
M
Ittermann
Till
T
Schwahn
Christian
C
Völzke
Henry
H
Ruppert
Jörg
J
Robinson
Daniel
D
Felix
Stephan B
SB
D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008274:Magnesium / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests
D008274:Magnesium