In a nutshell
This study investigated the effect of magnesium supplementation on the blood sugar profile of prediabetes patients with low levels of magnesium.
Some background
The processing of glucose (sugar) in the body is defective in prediabetes. This leads to elevated blood glucose levels. An impaired response to insulin, a hormone which lowers blood glucose, is partly responsible.
Magnesium is essential for the processing of glucose in the body. It has been shown that people with prediabetes have lower levels of magnesium in the blood than people without prediabetes. Furthermore, magnesium supplementation is known to improve the response of the body to insulin.
Methods & findings
This study aimed to determine the effect of magnesium supplementation on the blood sugar profile of prediabetes patients with low levels of magnesium.
116 prediabetes patients with low levels of magnesium took part. 59 patients received an oral magnesium supplement once daily. 57 patients were treated with a placebo (a substance that has no therapeutic effect, used for control in testing new drugs). Patients were followed for four months.
50.8% of patients in the magnesium supplementation group improved their blood sugar profile, in comparison to 7.0% of control patients. Fasting glucose (glucose levels after a period without meals) was reduced from 113.5 mg/dL to 86.9 mg/dL in the magnesium supplement patients. A significantly smaller reduction was observed in the control group – 110.5 mg/dL to 98.3 mg/dL. A similar trend was observed in the results of a test of glucose levels 2 hours following a glucose drink.
Other improvements were observed in patients taking an oral magnesium supplement compared to patients in the control group. Response to insulin, the profile of fats (cholesterol) in the blood and magnesium levels were significantly improved.
The bottom line
The authors concluded that magnesium supplementation improved the blood sugar profile of prediabetes patients with low magnesium levels.
The fine print
Further studies are necessary to confirm results.
What’s next?
Consult your doctor if you have prediabetes and are concerned that you may be deficient in magnesium.
Published By :
Diabetes & Metabolism
Date :
Apr 27, 2015
