Oral magnesium supplementation in insulin-requiring Type 2 diabetic patients

Abstract

Oral magnesium (Mg) supplementation can improve insulin sensitivity and secretion in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). We studied the effect of Mg supplementation on glycaemic control, blood pressure, and plasma lipids in insulin-requiring patients with Type 2 DM. Fifty moderately controlled patients were randomized to 15 mmol Mg or placebo daily for 3 months. Plasma Mg, glucose, HbA1c, lipids, erythrocyte Mg, Mg and glucose concentrations in 24-h urine, and systolic and diastolic pressure were measured before and after 3 months treatment. Plasma Mg concentration was higher after supplementation than after placebo (0.82 +/- 0.07 vs 0.78 +/- 0.08 mmol l(-1), p < 0.05), as was Mg excretion (5.5 +/- 1.9 vs 3.7 +/- 1.4 mmol 24 h(-1), p = 0.004) but erythrocyte Mg concentrations were similar. No significant differences were found in glycaemic control (glucose: 10.7 +/- 3.8 vs 11.6 +/- 6.2 mmol l(-1), p = 0.8; HbA1c: 8.9 +/- 1.6 vs 9.1 +/- 1.2%, p = 0.8), lipids or blood pressure. On-treatment analysis (34 patients: 18 on Mg, 16 on placebo) yielded similar results. An increase in plasma Mg concentration irrespective of medication was associated with a tendency to a decrease in diastolic pressure (increased plasma Mg vs no increase: -4.0 +/- 10.1 vs +2.5 +/- 12.0 mmHg, p = 0.059). Three months' oral Mg supplementation of insulin-requiring patients with Type 2 DM increased plasma Mg concentration and urinary Mg excretion but had no effect on glycaemic control or plasma lipid concentrations.

Comparative metal distribution in scalp hair of Pakistani and Irish referents and diabetes mellitus patients

“…The results showed that the level of Mg was significantly lower in scalp hair samples of DM-2 patients as related to referents (P <0.001 ). Many studies suggest an inverse association between serum or plasma Mg levels and risk of type 2 diabetes, indicating a potential role of Mg status in its pathogenesis [35,36]. Mg is a critical cofactor for several enzymes in carbohydrate metabolism, and involved in energy producing phosphorylation reactions [37].…”

Oral Magnesium Supplementation Improves Insulin Sensitivity and Metabolic Control in Type 2 Diabetic Subjects

“…A large body of evidence that shows a link between hypomagnesemia and reduction of tyrosinekinase activity at the insulin receptor level, which may result in the impairment of insulin action and development of insulin resistance, has been progressively accumulated in previous years (5-10). Although evidence suggests that magnesium supplementation could be useful in the treatment of diabetes and to prevent the development of its chronic complications (11-13), the possible benefits of magnesium administration as an adjuvant factor for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, based in a randomized controlled trial, are scarce (14 -19) and controversial (19).…”

Magnesium and Type 2 Diabetes: An Update

“…The clinical evidences of a clear effects of Mg supplements on the metabolic profile of diabetic subjects are controversial, benefits having been found in many [8,61,63,64], but not in all clinical studies [65].…”