Magnesium and Chronic Diseases

Population studies suggest that most individuals meet the minimum magnesium intake needed to avoid severe deficiency [1]; however, a substantial proportion of adults, more than 40%, consume less than the recommended intake, which may be relevant for optimal long term health. 


Type-2 Diabetes

 

A meta analysis study that analyzed studies that included a total of 1,219,636 participants and 56,540 T2D cases) reported that the magnitude of T2D risk was reduced by 22% when comparing the highest category of magnesium intake to the lowest [2]. This was accompanied by the results that the magnitude of the risk of total stroke was decreased by 11%, and the  magnitude of the risk of isochaemic stroke was reduced by 12% [2].


Pancreatic Cancer

 

Another study demonstrated a similarly significant impact of Magnesium intake for pancreatic cancer patients. Pancreatic cancer has the fourth-leading cause in cancer-related deaths [3]. The study which had 66,806 participants who participated from the year 2000-2008, showed that every 100 mg per day decrease in magnesium intake was associated with a 24% increase in the incidence of pancreatic cancer [3]. The study also showed that those who had a 75% RDA intake of Magnesium had a 76% increased incidence of pancreatic cancer compared to those who met the RDA for Magnesium intake.


Cancer and All-cause Mortality

 

Finally, a meta analysis published in the journal Advances in Nutrition, which collected the data from 7 publication amounting to 322,471 participants and 4913 deaths, found there was a 20% decrease in cancer mortality between those in the category with the highest dietary magnesium intake compared to those with the lowest magnesium intake category [4] . This study also showed that there was a 13% reduced risk for all-cause mortality between those with the highest magnesium intake and the lowest [4]. While the studies used to show the effects of magnesium supplementation were smaller (~100,000 participant), it is important to note that this study did not see any association between supplemental magnesium intake and reduction in cancer and all-cause mortality [4], however due to the limited nature of the study with regards to supplemental form of Magnesium, the authors suggest that it is too early to come to any conclusions regarding supplemental Magnesium [4].





  1. Krose J.L., de Baij J.H.F., Magnesium Biology, Nephrol Dial Transplant, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11648962/pdf/gfae134.pdf

  2. Zhao B, Zeng L, Zhao J, et al. Association of magnesium intake with type 2 diabetes and total stroke: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Open 2020;10:e032240. doi:10.1136/ bmjopen-2019-032240

  3. Dibaba D., Xun P., Yokota K., et al. Magnesium intake and incidence of pancreatic cancer: the VITamins and Lifestyle study. British Journal of Cancer (2015) 113, 1615–1621 | doi: 10.1038/bjc.2015.382

  4. Bagheri, A., Naghshi, S., Sadeghi, O., Larijani, B., & Esmaillzadeh, A. (2021). Total, dietary, and supplemental magnesium intakes and risk of all-cause, cardiovascular, and cancer mortality: a systematic review and dose–response meta-analysis of prospective

 

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