Magnesium’s role in controlling blood glucose, lipids, and blood pressure in diabetes as an adjuvant therapy based on learning from 24 randomized controlled trials

Context: This article reflects the findings of a literature review on the topic and does not provide health advice.

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As mentioned in my previous articles, magnesium is not just another mineral. I highlighted its critical role in our health, making 300 enzymatic reactions in the body contributing to homeostasis.

In this article, I focus on the benefits of magnesium supplementation specifically for type II diabetes, leveraging the insights from a recent meta-analysis of 24 randomized controlled trials.

First, I’d like to emphasize the importance of magnesium for overall health and then touch on specific benefits for type II diabetes adversely affecting the lives of 442 million people, as documented by the World Health Organization. As documented in this paper, it was estimated to hit to 693 million by 2025.

Even though diabetes is a chronic health condition believed to have no cure with traditional treatments, recent studies indicate it is reversible with holistic and integrative approaches. I also witnessed people reversing it in my observational studies.

Significance of Magnesium for Health

The body needs magnesium for reproduction, protein synthesis, the regulation of muscular contraction, blood pressure, insulin metabolism, cardiac excitability, energy production, metabolism, DNA repair, neuromuscular conduction, vasomotor tone, and nerve transmission.

As pointed out in this study, “magnesium has been recognized as a co-factor for more than 300 enzymatic reactions, where it is crucial for adenosine triphosphate metabolism.

Magnesium is required for DNA and RNA synthesis, reproduction, and protein synthesis. It is essential for regulating muscular contraction, blood pressure, insulin metabolism, cardiac excitability, vasomotor tone, nerve transmission, and neuromuscular conduction.”

Despite these benefits, unfortunately, two-thirds of the population in the Western world is not achieving the recommended daily allowance for magnesium, a deficiency problem contributing to various health conditions. You may check the details in this paper titled The Importance of Magnesium in Clinical Healthcare.

According to NIH, men, women, and children need different amounts of magnesium. If you are a man, you need at least 400 mg; if you are a woman, you need 310 mg of magnesium.

I provided the summary of literature reviews covering ten major contributions of magnesium in a previous article titled What Happens If We Don’t Get Enough Magnesium?

In another article, I introduced six types of magnesium, which have different effects on the body from a bioavailability perspective.

Effects of Magnesium Supplementation on Improving Hyperglycemia, Hypercholesterolemia, and Hypertension in Type 2 Diabetes

In this section, I’d like to introduce a recent review paper published on Frontier’s Clinical Nutrition. Then, I explain the findings based on my research in metabolic health.

The research team analyzed the data from 24 randomized controlled trials with 1,325 cases across 11 countries using magnesium as a therapy for type II diabetes.

The trials included the most up-to-date evidence demonstrating oral magnesium's effects and operational details on improving hyperglycemia, hypercholesterolemia, and hypertension in type II diabetic patients.

The systemic review was conducted rigorously with an excellent methodical approach, as documented in the paper.

The investigation revealed that subjects who received magnesium supplementation had statistically significant reductions in fasting plasma glucose, glycated hemoglobin, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure.

Detailed subgroup analyses demonstrated that the health status of participants, including age, body mass index, country, duration of disease, baseline magnesium level, and baseline glycemic control condition, as well as magnesium formulation, dosage, and duration of intervention, influenced the effects of magnesium addition.

Dose-effect analysis showed that 279 mg per day for 116 days, 429 mg for 88 days, and 300 mg for 120 days are optimal dosages and durations for improving glycemic, circulating lipids, and blood pressure controls, respectively.

The research findings provide clinically relevant information on the adjuvant therapy of magnesium for improving hyperglycemia, hypercholesterolemia, and hypertension in type II diabetes.

Magnesium for Treatment of Type II Diabetes

Magnesium is essential for glucose metabolism, insulin signaling, lipid metabolism, and blood pressure control.

In the following five sections, I will explain these points and link relevant papers for interested readers.

1 —Improved Insulin Sensitivity

Magnesium regulates insulin sensitivity in several ways.

The key mechanisms are enhancing glucose uptake, improving insulin signaling, reducing inflammation, enhancing mitochondrial function, and regulating calcium signaling.

This paper informs that “combined supplementation with vitamin D and magnesium improves glycemic control in patients with diabetes”, increasing insulin sensitivity.

2 — Enhanced Glucose Uptake

Magnesium can enhance glucose uptake by skeletal muscle, improving glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity.

The key mechanisms are the activation of insulin receptor signaling, phosphorylation of Akt (protein kinase B), activation of AMP-activated protein kinase, and enhanced insulin secretion.

This paper informs that “magnesium increases insulin-dependent glucose uptake in adipocytes and suggests magnesium deficiency may contribute to insulin resistance in people with type II diabetes.”

3 — Reduced Oxidative Stress

Magnesium has antioxidant properties and can reduce oxidative stress.

The key mechanisms for antioxidant activity are inhibition of inflammatory pathways, improvement of mitochondrial function, protection of endothelial function, and chelation of transition metals.

This review informs that “the studies show that obese subjects have low serum concentrations of magnesium and high concentrations of oxidative stress marker in these individuals. Adequate magnesium intake contributes to appropriate homeostasis in the body.”

4 — Improved Lipid Profile

Magnesium can improve lipid metabolism by reducing triglycerides and increasing HDL cholesterol levels.

The key mechanisms are inhibiting lipolysis, regulating lipid metabolism, reducing insulin resistance, modulation of inflammation, and enhancing cellular energy metabolism.

This meta-analysis informs that “the pooled analysis of 12 randomized controlled trials indicated that magnesium administration led to a significant reduction of serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels.”

5 — Blood Pressure Control

Magnesium can contribute to blood pressure control in type II diabetes by relaxing the smooth muscles in blood vessels, leading to vasodilation and increased blood flow.

Its effects on oxidative stress, inflammation, insulin, and glucose uptake can contribute to blood pressure control.

This paper states, “Magnesium intake of 500 mg/d to 1000 mg/d may reduce blood pressure as much as 5.6/2.8 mm Hg.”

Conclusion and Summary

Magnesium can improve insulin sensitivity, enhance glucose update, lower oxidative stress and inflammation, and contribute to blood pressure control for patients with type II diabetes.

Investigating the value of magnesium in obesity, metabolic syndrome, and type II diabetes, this paper states that “an appropriate dietary pattern, including the right magnesium intake, improves metabolic syndrome by reducing blood pressure, hyperglycemia, and hypertriglyceridemia.”

Getting magnesium from whole foods is ideal. However, if our diet does not provide enough magnesium, a viable solution is to supplement it with support from qualified healthcare professionals.

Like any nutrient, too little or too much magnesium can be problematic. Therefore, finding the right dose for body type and needs is vital.

There are various forms of magnesium, such as citrate, orotate, glycinate, l-threonate, taurate, malate, lactate, chloride, and oxide.

Some of them are more bioavailable and more friendly to our digestive system. I provided an overview of these magnesium forms in a previous article providing relevant references.

The most noticeable effect of magnesium for me is improving my sleep quality; therefore, after dinner, I supplement with 400 mg of a proprietary formula, including the most bioavailable ingredients.

Thank you for reading my perspectives. I wish you a healthy and happy life.

I regularly contribute to NewsBreak to inform my new readers. I wrote numerous articles that might inform and inspire you. My topics include brain and cognitive function, significant health conditions, longevity, nutrition/food, valuable nutrients, ketogenic lifestyle, self-healing, weight management, science, technology, business, and humor.

I compile my health and wellness stories on my blog, EUPHORIA. My posts do not include professional or health advice. I only document my reviews, observations, experiences, and perspectives to provide information and create awareness.