Magnesium Replacement Does Not Improve Insulin Resistance in Patients With Metabolic Syndrome: A 12-Week Randomized Double-Blind Study

Abstract

Background: To evaluate the effect of magnesium (Mg) replacement on insulin resistance and cardiovascular risk factors in women with metabolic syndrome (MS) without diabetes.

Methods: This 12-week clinical randomized double-blind study compared the effects of 400 mg/day of Mg with those of a placebo (n = 72) on fasting glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, lipid profile and CRP. Mg was measured in serum (SMg) and in mononuclear cells (MMg).

Results: Hypomagnesemia (SMg < 1.7 mg/dL) was seen in 23.2% of patients and intracellular depletion in 36.1% of patients. The MMg means were lower in patients with obesity (0.94 0.54 ?g/mg vs. 1.19 0.6 ?g/mg, P = 0.04), and insulin resistance (0.84 0.33 ?g/mg vs. 1.14 0.69 g/mg, P < 0.05). Mg replacement did not alter SMg (1.82 0.14 mg/dL vs. 1.81 0.16 mg/dL, P = 0.877) and tended to increment MMg (0.90 0.40 ?g/mg vs. 1.21 0.73 ?g/mg, P = 0.089). HOMA-IR did not alter in interventions nor in placebo group (3.2 2.0 to 2.8 1.9, P = 0.368; 3.6 1.9 to 3.2 1.8, respectively), neither did other metabolic parameters.

Conclusion: Serum and intracellular Mg depletion is common in patients with MS; however, Mg replacement in recommended dosage did not increase significantly Mg levels, neither reduced insulin resistance or metabolic control.




J Clin Med Res. 2014;6(6):456-462
doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.14740/jocmr1580w