Written by Jessica Patella, ND. Prediabetic and magnesium deficient participants, after 4 months of magnesium supplementation, significantly improved their glucose status, magnesium levels and blood lipids.
An estimated 29.1 million people in the United States have diabetes (2). The disease ranks nationally as a global pandemic threat on human health and the entire global economy (1, 3). Pre-diabetes offers an opportunity for early intervention to delay or prevent type 2 diabetes (1). Recent research found that supplementing with magnesium lowers blood glucose levels and improves glycemic status in pre-diabetic, hypomagnesemia patients (1).
A total of 116 men and women (ages 30-65) recently diagnosed with pre-diabetes and hypomagnesemia were randomly assigned to either a magnesium group (n=59) or placebo group (n=57) (1). The magnesium group received 30 mL of magnesium daily (MgCl2 5% solution, equivalent to 382 mg magnesium) and the placebo group received an inert placebo solution daily, for a total of 4 months (1).
After 4 months, a total of 34 people improved their glucose status, 50.8% in the magnesium group and 7.0% in the placebo group (P<0.0005) (1). The following glycemic status markers were significantly improved in the magnesium group compared to the placebo group, after 4 months:
| Magnesium Group | Placebo Group | Significance | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fasting glucose | 86.9 +/- 7.9 mg/dL | 98.3 +/- 4.6 mg/dL | P=0.004 |
| Post-load glucose | 124.7 +/- 33.4 mg/dL | 136.7 +/- 23.9 mg/dL | P=0.03 |
| HOMA-IR indices (insulin resistance marker) | 2.85 +/- 1.0 | 4.1 +/- 2.7 | P=0.04 |
| Triglycerides | 166.4 +/- 90.6 | 227.0 +/- 89.7 | P=0.009 |
| HDL cholesterol | 45.6 +/- 10.9 mg/dL | 46.8 +/- 9.2 mg/dL | P=0.04 |
| Serum magnesium | 1.96 +/- 0.27 mg/dL | 1.60 +/- 0.26 mg/dL | P=0.005 |
These results could be due to the fact that magnesium is an essential nutrient in glucose metabolism (4). Magnesium has also been shown to reduce insulin resistance (5). But this was the first randomized, placebo controlled clinical trial to find that magnesium supplementation improves pre-diabetes in patients with low magnesium levels(1).
In conclusion, supplementing with magnesium in pre-diabetic, hypomagnesemia patients shows improvement in glycemic markers. The researchers suggest those with pre-diabetes to supplement with magnesium daily to reduce glucose levels and potentially decrease the progression from pre-diabetes to diabetes (1). Larger trials should be performed to confirm the results.
Source: Guerrero-Romero, F., et al. “Oral magnesium supplementation improves glycaemic status in subjects with prediabetes and hypomagnesaemia: a double-blind placebo-controlled randomized trial.” Diabetes & metabolism 41.3 (2015): 202-207.
© 2015 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.
Posted August 13, 2015.
Jessica Patella, ND, is a naturopathic physician specializing in nutrition and homeopathic medicine and offers a holistic approach to health. She earned her ND from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Tempe, AZ, and is a member of the North Carolina Association of Naturopathic Physicians. Visit her website at www.awarenesswellness.com.
References:
- Guerrero-Romero F, et al. Oral magnesium supplementation improves glycaemic status in subjects with pre diabetes and hypomagnesaemia: A double-blind placebo-controlled randomized trial Diabetes & Metabolism 2015 (41) 202-207.
- Diabetes Statistics. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Zimmet PZ, et al. Diabetes: a 21st century challenge. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 2014;2:56–64.
- Paolisso G, Barbagallo M. Hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and insulin resistance: the role of
intracellular magnesium. Am J Hypertens1997;10:346–55. - Mooren FC, et al. Oralmagnesium supplementation reduces insulin resistance in non-diabetic subjects – a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial. Diabetes ObesMetab 2011;13:281–4.
