Can magnesium improve insulin resistance in patients with prediabetes?

This study looked at the effects of drinking magnesium-rich balanced deep-sea water in patients with prediabetes. This study found that this deep-sea water improved insulin sensitivity in these patients.

Individuals with prediabetes have high blood glucose levels, but not high enough to be diagnosed with diabetes. In diabetes, a patient's cells become less sensitive to insulin. This means that their cells are not able to properly use blood glucose. As a result, blood glucose levels increase.

Balanced deep-sea water is purified water that contains minerals from deep in the ocean, including magnesium. Studies suggest that magnesium may help make cells more sensitive to insulin. Whether deep-sea water can improve symptoms of prediabetes is unclear.

This study had 40 patients with prediabetes. 20 patients drank balanced deep-sea water containing magnesium every day for 8 weeks. 20 patients were given regular purified water (placebo). After 4 weeks, patients switched groups and drank the opposite type of water for 8 weeks. 

After 8 weeks, there was no difference in blood glucose levels between patients who had deep-sea water and patients who had regular purified water. Blood glucose levels decreased similarly in both groups after eating a meal after fasting (not eating) for 8 hours. 

HOMA-IR is a method of measuring how well cells respond to insulin. A low score means that a patient's cells are sensitive to insulin. Patients who had deep-sea water had significantly lower scores (1.87) than the placebo group (2.13). Fasting insulin was also significantly lower (7.59 mg/dL vs. 8.62 mg/dL).

Total cholesterol significantly dropped by 5.68 mg/dL in the deep-sea water group compared to placebo (increase by 10.41 mg/dL). LDL cholesterol levels also significantly decreased in the deep-sea water group (by 7.22 mg/dL) but increased in the placebo group (by 11.00 mg/dL).

Deep-sea water was safe to drink. There were no differences in kidney function, blood cell levels, or blood pressure between the two groups.

This study found that deep-sea water containing magnesium improved insulin sensitivity in patients with prediabetes.

This study had a small number of patients. Also, it was funded by the Korean Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries initiative to explore the uses of deep seawater.