Oral magnesium supplementation improves glycemic control and lipid profile in children with type 1 diabetes and hypomagnesaemia

Abstract

Dietary supplementation with magnesium (Mg) in addition to classical therapies for diabetes may help in prevention or delaying of diabetic complications.We aimed to evaluate the status of serum Mg in children with type 1 diabetes and assessing its relationship to glycemic control and lipid profile. Then evaluating the effect of oral Mg supplementation on glycemic control and lipid parameters.We included 71 children at Pediatric Endocrinology Outpatient Clinic, Zagazig University, Egypt with type 1 diabetes and assessed HBA1c, lipid profile, and serum Mg at the start of study. Patients with serum Mg level < 1.7 mg/dL were given 300 mg Mg oxide for 3 months. After that we reevaluated HBA1c, lipid profile, and serum Mg in all patients.The study included 71 patients with type 1 diabetes (32 males and 39 females); their mean age was 9.68 ± 3.99 years. The mean serum Mg level was 1.83 ± .27 mg/dL. Hypomagnesemia was detected in 28.2% study patients. Serum Mg was found to be positively correlated with high density lipoprotein, mean corpuscular volume and platelet count (P < 0.001), and negatively correlated with age, HbA1c, triglycerides, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein, and duration of diabetes (P < 0.001). There was significant reduction in HBA1c in group given Mg supplementation. HBA1c was initially 10.11% ± 0.87%. After 3 months of oral Mg supplementation it is reduced to 7.88% ± 0.42% (P < 0.001). There was statistically significant difference in lipid parameters in hypomagnesemic diabetic patients before and after Mg supplementation with significant reduction in serum triglycerides, LDL, and total cholesterol following Mg supplementation with P < 0.001. Although HDL shows a significant increase after Mg supplementation in hypomagnesemic diabetic children with P < 0.001.Correction of hypomagnesemia in type 1 diabetic children with oral Mg supplements is associated with optimization of glycemic control and reduction of atherogenic lipid fraction as well as increase in protective lipid fraction.

Influence of Demographic and Lifestyle Variables on Plasma Magnesium Concentrations and Their Associations with Cardiovascular Risk Factors in a Mediterranean Population

“…The results of studies that have analyzed the influence of magnesium supplementation on plasma lipid concentrations have been contradictory [37,93]. Thus, Shahbah et al [94], in a clinical trial on children, reported improvements in the atherogenic lipid profile (decreases in total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol after intervention with magnesium supplements). Other intervention studies reached the same conclusion in adults; however, a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials on the effects of magnesium supplementation on lipid profile [37] concluded that no decrease in total cholesterol or LDL-cholesterol was observed in the pooled analysis.…”

Comparison of Serum Magnesium Levels in Overweight and Obese Children and Normal Weight Children

“…Various studies have been done on the relationship between dietary intake and serum levels of magnesium and their relationship with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus in adult men and women [ 14 - 15 ]. Another study shows that low serum levels of magnesium can be seen in obese children, despite a high dietary intake of Mg-rich food [ 16 ].…”

Association of trace metal elements with lipid profiles in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients: a cross sectional study

“…The disagreement of the findings might be due to difference in study designs, diabetic complications, glycemic control, and the behavioral and Socio-cultural difference. Like other trace metal elements, the adequate amount of Mg +2 and Cr +3 in the blood would play a greater role in controlling metabolic crisis among diabetes mellitus patients [ 37 – 40 ]. Mg +2 plays an extremely important role in the activation and modulation of many enzymes that are involved in carbohydrate and insulin metabolism.…”