Magnesium and Diabetes

Magnesium for Diabetes

Magnesium supplementation may help improve insulin sensitivity and lower the risk of diabetes in overweight patients, according to a recent study.

In the study, 52 overweight non-diabetic adults were randomly assigned to receive either 365 milligrams of magnesium-aspartate-hydrochloride (Magnesiocard®) or placebo daily for six months. Verla-Pharm Arzneimittel, the manufacturer of Magnesiocard®, sponsored the study.
The researchers found that insulin resistance significantly improved in the magnesium group after six months of supplementation. Blood pressure and cholesterol levels were not significantly affected by supplementation.

The results support earlier research findings that were published in August 2010. The researchers evaluated magnesium intake, inflammatory markers and diabetes diagnoses in 4,497 adults who did not have diabetes. They found that that people who consumed the most magnesium were 47 percent less likely to develop diabetes than those who consumed the least amount. Additionally, higher magnesium levels were linked to lower inflammatory markers and improvements in insulin resistance.

While the results are promising, more research is needed to determine if magnesium has a protective effect against diabetes.

For more information about magnesium, please visit Natural Standard's Foods, Herbs & Supplements database.

References

Mooren FC, Kruger K, Volker K, et al. Oral magnesium supplementation reduces insulin resistance in non-diabetic subjects - a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial. Diabetes Obes Metab. 2010 Nov 18. doi: 10.1111/j.1463-1326.2010.01332.x. View Abstract

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