HEALTH NEWS

Study Title:

Magnesium and Healthy Blood Sugar

Study Abstract

Objective Dietary magnesium intake has been associated with a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes in western populations, but the evidence is limited in Asian populations.

Methods We assessed the relationship between dietary magnesium intake and risk of diabetes in a cohort of 17,592 individuals (6480 men and 11,112 women) aged 40–65, free of a history of diabetes or other chronic disease at the time of the baseline lifestyle survey, who completed a 5-year follow-up questionnaire. Dietary magnesium was calculated by using a validated questionnaire, and the incidence of diabetes was defined by self-report of physician diagnosis. Associations between dietary magnesium and diabetes incidence were evaluated using a logistic regression model.

Results We found 459 self-reported new cases of diabetes (237 men and 222 women) at the 5-year follow-up. Dietary intake of magnesium was inversely associated with age- and body mass index (BMI)–adjusted diabetes incidence in both sexes. In multivariable analysis that adjusted further for cardiovascular risk factors, the association was weakened in both sexes, but the association in total participants remained statistically significant. The odds ratios of diabetes with reference to the lowest quartile of magnesium intake were 0.83 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.69 to 1.09) for the second quartile, 0.79 (95% CI, 0.59 to 1.07) for the third quartile, and 0.64 (95% CI, 0.44 to 0.94) for the highest quartile of magnesium intake (p for trend = 0.04).

Conclusions Dietary intake of magnesium was associated with a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes in Japanese populations.

Study Information

Kyoko Kirii, Hiroyasu Iso, Chigusa Date, Mitsuru Fukui, Akiko Tamakoshi, and the JACC Study Group.
Magnesium Intake and Risk of Self-Reported Type 2 Diabetes among Japanese
J Am Coll Nutr
2010 August
Department of Public Health Medicine, Graduate School of Comprehensive Medical Sciences, University of Tsukuba Ibaraki