Magnesium Supplementation Improves Insulin Sensitivity in Type 2 Diabetes Patients

by | Nov 2, 2023 | 2018, Diabetes, Magnesium, Minerals

Written by Chrystal Moulton, Staff Writer. Participants in the intervention group had significantly better HbA1C values, insulin levels, C-peptide levels, HOMA-IR, and HOMA beta % value compared to controls after three months (P <0.05).

magnesiumIntracellular magnesium and calcium concentration may be associated with type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance1,2. Research on magnesium levels and degree of insulin sensitivity is conflicting. Some studies demonstrate beneficial effects of magnesium supplementation in individuals with type 2 diabetes3,4 . Other studies demonstrate no significant effect of magnesium supplementation on type 2 diabetes patients5,6. Type 2 diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder that leads to hyperglycemia7. Heart disease, kidney disease, blindness, stroke, and amputation may result from chronic hyperglycemia8. Thus, finding a solution to control hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes patients is essential to preventing disease progression and debilitation. In the current study researchers investigated the effect of adding magnesium supplementation to the daily diet of type 2 diabetes patients9.

The trial was a randomized, controlled study, which included 64 patients who were recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (< one year). Participants Included in this trial were between the age of 35 and 60 years old with fasting blood sugar >126 mg/ dL and who receiving antidiabetic drugs. Study duration was three months. The first week of the intervention was referred to as the stabilizing phase. During the first week, all subjects were required to follow a prescribed diet plan to stabilize this serum glucose level. Participants in the intervention group were given a magnesium supplement to take containing 250mg of elemental highly absorbable magnesium each day. Both control and intervention group participants were instructed to eat a healthy diet. Adherence to the assigned group protocol was checked weekly. All patients were contacted twice a week by phone and met weekly with an investigator to valuate compliance to study protocol. Biochemical analysis was conducted at baseline and after three months. Serum calcium and magnesium, HbA1C, fasting blood sugar, fasting insulin levels, and fasting C- peptide levels were assessed. The HOMA model was calculated to predict insulin sensitivity and beta cell dysfunction from fasting plasma insulin and glucose concentration. A low HOMA beta % value indicated high beta cell dysfunction. A HOMA-IR above 1.9 indicates insulin resistance and below 1.0 indicates normal insulin sensitivity.

Forty-eight eligible patients started the trial. During the dietary stabilization phase, 6 patients were excluded due to non-compliance. Two patients were unable to complete the three-month intervention. By the end of the trial, 40 patients successfully completed the study (control = 20, treatment = 20). No significant differences were observed between the treatment group and control group at baseline. After 3 months, significant differences were observed within each group and between each group. Within the control group, HbA1C, HOMA-IR, and insulin levels increased significantly from baseline to three months (P <0.01). C- peptide levels also significantly increased from baseline to three months in the control group (P <0.05). In the intervention group, significant improvement was observed in HbA1C, fasting blood sugar, C-peptide levels, insulin levels, HOMA beta %, and HOMA-IR (P <0.05). Participants in the intervention group had significantly better HbA1C values, insulin levels, C-peptide levels, HOMA-IR, and HOMA beta % value compared to controls after three months (P <0.05). Participants in the intervention group also had significantly reduced calcium/magnesium ratio and calcium levels (P= 0.001) and a significant increase in magnesium levels (P= 0.036) after three months.

Results from this trial showed that magnesium supplementation significantly reduced insulin resistance and improved insulin levels, C-peptide levels, and HbA1C values in type 2 diabetes patients. A significant reduction in calcium/magnesium ratio and serum calcium levels within the intervention group demonstrated a potential role of magnesium as a calcium antagonist10. Further studies will be needed to assess the role of magnesium in improving symptoms related to type 2 diabetes.

Source: ELDerawi, Wafaa A., Ihab A. Naser, Mahmmoud H. Taleb, and Ayman S. Abutair. “The effects of oral magnesium supplementation on glycemic response among type 2 diabetes patients.” Nutrients 11, no. 1 (2018): 44.

© 2018 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution
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Posted November 2, 2023.

Chrystal Moulton BA, PMP, is a 2008 graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago. She graduated with a bachelor’s in psychology with a focus on premedical studies and is a licensed project manager. She currently resides in Indianapolis, IN.

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