MAGNESIUM SHOWS SIGNIFICANT BENEFITS FOR BLOOD SUGAR CONTROL

By Greg Arnold, DC, CSCS, November 26, 2014, abstracted from “Higher Magnesium Intake Reduces Risk of Impaired Glucose and Insulin Metabolism and Progression from Prediabetes to Diabetes in Middle-Aged Americans” in Diabetes Care, February 2014

 

There are currently 29.1 million Americans with diabetes (21 million diagnosed, 8.1 million undiagnosed at a cost of $245 billion each year (1)) and 86 million Americans with “prediabetes” (defined as having fasting plasma sugar levels between 5.6 and 7.0 millimoles/L (2)). A common condition in these patients is an increased level of the inflammatory protein called high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (3) which can damage blood vessels in a way that leads to high blood pressure and heart disease.

 

Now a new study (4) suggests that magnesium intake can help slow the progress of prediabetes to type 2 diabetes. The study involved 2,582 subjects aged 26 to 81.  The subjects were comprised of 928 with impaired fasting glucose (between 5.6 and 7.0 millimoles/Liter) and impaired glucose tolerance (defined as having blood sugar levels 2 hours after eating between 7.8 and 11.1 mmol/L) and 1,654 without blood sugar problems. Over the course of seven years, researchers measured the progression of each subject’s diabetes risk by measuring their blood sugar levels and insulin levels.

 

The researchers noted that those with the highest intake of magnesium consumed an average of 395.6 milligrams per day (359.4 mg from food, 36.3 mg from supplements) and those with the lowest intake of magnesium consumed 227 mg per day (224.3 mg/d from food, 2.7 mg/d from supplements). Among the 928 subjects with blood sugar problems, those in the high magnesium intake group had a 37% lower risk of progressing to type 2 diabetes (p = 0.02). The 1,654 subjects without blood sugar problems had a 32% lower risk of progressing to type 2 diabetes (p = 0.05), compared to those with the lowest magnesium intake.

 

When suggesting how magnesium elicits these benefits on blood sugar, the researchers cited studies showing a decreased efficiency of insulin receptors in the absence of magnesium (5), decreased function of the cells that produce insulin (called beta cells) in the absence of magnesium (6) and a reverse effect of insulin on magnesium levels where high levels of insulin stimulate magnesium excretion from the body (7).

 

For the researchers, “Magnesium intake may be particularly beneficial in offsetting risk of developing diabetes among those at high risk” and that “These findings support a role for higher magnesium intake in those at high risk of developing diabetes and the need for large, randomized trials to confirm these observations.”

 

Greg Arnold is a Chiropractic Physician practicing in Hauppauge, NY.  You can contact Dr. Arnold directly by emailing him atPitchingDoc@msn.com or visiting his web site at www.PitchingDoc.com

 

Reference:

1.     “National Diabetes Statistics Report, 2014” posted on the CDC website

2.     The Expert Committee on the Diagnosis and Classification of Diabetes Mellitus. Follow up report on the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. Diabetes Care 2003;26:3160e3167

3.     Pickup JC. Inflammation and activated innate immunity in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care 2004;27:813e823

4.     Hruby A. Higher Magnesium Intake Reduces Risk of Impaired Glucose and Insulin Metabolism and Progression From Prediabetes to Diabetes in Middle-Aged Americans. Diabetes Care 2014 Feb;37(2):419-27. doi: 10.2337/dc13-1397. Epub 2013 Oct 2

5.     Su´arez A, Pulido N, Casla A, Casanova B, Arrieta FJ, Rovira A. Impaired tyrosinekinase activity of muscle insulin receptors from hypomagnesaemic rats. Diabetologia 1995;38:1262–1270

6.     Barbagallo M, Dominguez LJ. Magnesium metabolism in type 2 diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance. Arch Biochem Biophys 2007; 458:40–47

7.     G¨unther T. The biochemical function of Mg2+ in insulin secretion, insulin signal transduction and insulin resistance. Magnes Res 2010;23:5–18

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Description

• With B-Complex & Vitamin C
• Vegetarian Formula
• A Dietary Supplement
• GMP Quality Assured

Calcium & Magnesium are essential minerals that work synergistically with one another to promote enhanced absorption. Calcium is necessary for strong bones and teeth, and Magnesium is important for healthy enzymatic activity. In addition, NOW Cal-Mag Stress Formula provides a full spectrum of B-Vitamins and Vitamin C.

Suggested Use
As a dietary supplement, take 2 tablets daily, preferably with meals.

Other Ingredients
Cellulose, stearic acid (vegetable source), croscarmellose sodium, silica, magnesium stearate (vegetable source) and vegetable coating.

Contains no sugar, salt, starch, yeast, wheat, gluten, soy, milk, egg or preservatives.

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Key FeaturesSupplement Type: Minerals Supplement, Vitamins & Minerals Supplement Category: Dietary SupplementProduct Type: TabletsNutritional Ingredients: Vitamin B
Supplement Facts
Serving Size: 2 Tablets
Servings Per Container: 50
Amount Per Serving / % Daily Value

Vitamin C (as Ascorbic Acid) 120 mg / 200%
Thiamine (Vitamin B-1) (from Thiamine HCl) 10 mg / 667%
Riboflavin (Vitamin B-2) 5 mg / 294%
Niacin (Vitamin B-3) (as Niacinamide) 40 mg / 200%
Vitamin B-6 (from Pyridoxine HCl) 5 mg / 250%
Folate (Folic Acid) 800 mcg / 200%
Vitamin B-12 (as Cyanocobalamin) 20 mcg / 333%
Biotin 300 mcg / 100%
Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B-5) (from Calcium Pantothenate) 20 mg / 200%
Calcium (from 80% Calcium Carbonate, 10% Calcium Citrate, 10% Amino Acid Chelate) 1.0 g (1,000 mg) / 100%
Magnesium (from 80% Magnesium Oxide, 10% Magnesium Citrate, 10% Amino Acid Chelate) 500 mg /     125%
Choline (as Choline Bitartrate) 20 mg † Inositol 20 mg † PABA 10 mg †

†Daily Value not established.