Magnesium in Diet May Help
Prevent Diabetes
Magnesium intake and risk of type 2 diabetes: a meta-analysis, by S.C. Larsson and A. Wolk. J Intern Med 262: 208-214, 2007
What is the problem and what is known about it so far?
Dietary habits, along with other factors such as overweight and obesity, are linked to type 2 diabetes. Research shows that diabetes is less likely among people who eat a diet high in whole grains, beans, nuts, fruits, and vegetables. These foods are rich sources of magnesium, a trace mineral involved in the body’s ability to handle insulin and glucose.
Research with animals shows that a diet low in magnesium can affect the body’s ability to handle insulin, and that supplementing the diet with magnesium can make the development of diabetes less likely.
Why did the researchers do this particular study?
The researchers wanted to see whether there is a link between dietary magnesium and the chance of developing diabetes in humans.
Who was studied?
The study included 286,668 people who participated in studies of dietary magnesium and diabetes.
How was the study done?
The researchers looked at studies of diabetes and dietary magnesium, whether in food or as dietary supplements. A search of the medical literature found seven studies with a total of more than 286,000 participants.
What did the researchers find?
All but one of the studies found that the chance of developing diabetes increased as magnesium in the diet decreased. It makes no difference whether magnesium is derived from foods or from dietary supplements.
What are the limitations of the study?
There could be other reasons for the link between magnesium and diabetes. For example, people who eat a magnesium-rich diet may be leaner than others who don’t. There could also be an influence from factors that were not consistently measured in the studies, such as smoking habits and body mass index (BMI, a way of measuring weight compared with height).
What are the implications of the study?
Increasing the intake of magnesium-rich foods such as whole grains, beans, nuts, and leafy green vegetables may help prevent the development of diabetes.
