A study published in Nutrition Journal has found that magnesium levels correlate to a higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors.
The study of 1,276 Mexican-mestizo subjects aged between 30 to 75 and free of symptomatic cardiovascular disease, found that low serum magnesium was independently associated to a higher prevalence mot only of hypertension and type 2 diabetes, but also to coronary artery calcification, which is a marker of atherosclerosis and a predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.
The researchers found that higher serum levels of magnesium could lower the risk of type 2 diabetes by 69%, coronary artery calcification by 42% and hypertension by 48%.
For every 0.17mg/dL rise in serum magnesium, a 16% reduction in coronary artery calcification was seen.
The researchers concluded: “The results of this study strongly suggest that lower serum magnesium levels are associated with coronary artery calcification in Mexican subjects free of clinically apparent cardiovascular disease.”
