Serum and Urine Levels of Magnesium in Adult Males with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a growing public health concern across the world, particularly in developing countries. The prevalence of type 2 DM (T2 DM) is rising much more rapidly because of increasing obesity and reduced activity levels as countries become more industrialized. This is true in most countries, and 6 of the top 10 countries with the highest rates are in Asia (1). The prevalence of DM in Saudi Arabia is at an alarming level. More than 25% of the adult population is suffering from DM, and this figure is expected to be more than double by 2030 (2). Half of the people more than 30 years of age are prone to DM. Saudi Arabia ranks seventh worldwide and the first in the gulf in terms of DM prevalence rates (3). T2 DM is the major problem and accounts for more than 90% of the cases. It is reported that around 9% of patients with DM die annually. Beyond the devastating humanitarian costs, DM threatens to subvert the gains of economic development globally as a consequence of spiraling costs of medical care (4). Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) is considered a good method of assessing glycemic control. The higher the percentage of circulating HbA1c in DM, the poorer the mean diabetic control. Achieving near-normal HbA1c levels has been shown to reduce long-term complications. The HbA1c assay is recommended to determine whether treatment is adequate and to guide adjustments (5,6). Accumulating evidence indicates that the metabolism of several trace elements is altered in DM. Deficiency and efficiency of some essential trace elements may play a role in the development of DM (7). Magnesium (Mg)