A Study of the Relationship between Serum Magnesium Levels and Lipid Profile in Hypertensive patients on Diuretics

Abstract

Hypertension (HTN) is a chronic universal health problem. It is considered an important changeable risk factor for morbidity and mortality. Diuretics are among the first-line medications for HTN treatment. Both thiazide-type diuretics and loop diuretics promote urinary loss of electrolytes such as magnesium. Magnesium has been studied for its important involvement in many physiological processes and biochemical pathways. It plays a significant role in regulating the activity of enzymes required in lipids and lipoproteins metabolism like HMG-CoA Reductase, lipoprotein lipase (LPL), and lecithin cholesterol acyl transferase (LCAT). It is well documented that dyslipidemia is a general threat to health and should be determined early to manage cardiovascular disease (CVD) and prevent its complications. The goal of the current study was to investigate the association between serum magnesium levels and lipid profile components in hypertensive patients on long-term diuretics therapy. The study was conducted on 50 adult hypertensive patients and 25 matched healthy subjects at Tishreen University Hospital (TUH) of Lattakia City in Syria. The study showed a statistically significant decrease in serum magnesium concentrations in the patients group (1.87±0.16mg/dl) versus the controls (2.40±0.41mg/dl) (P<0.05). A significant negative correlation between magnesium and triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol was identified, while a significant positive correlation with HDL cholesterol was found. In conclusion, this study has showed that hypomagnesemia is related to increased levels of TC, LDL-c, TG and decreased levels of HDL-c, therefore, an increased risk of dyslipidemia in hypertensive patients on diuretics.