Lower serum magnesium concentration is associated with diabetes, insulin resistance, and
obesity in South Asian and white Canadian women but not men
Sammanfattning
Background: A large proportion of adults in North America are not meeting recommended intakes
for
magnesium (Mg). Women and people of South Asian race may be at higher risk for Mg deficiency
because of
lower Mg intakes relative to requirements and increased susceptibility to diabetes, respectively.
Objective: This study compared serum Mg concentrations in South Asian (n276) and white (n315)
Canadian women and men aged 2079 years living in Canada’s Capital Region and examined the
relationship
with diabetes, glucose control, insulin resistance, and body mass index.
Results: Serum Mg concentration was lower in women of both races and South Asians of both
genders.
Racial differences in serum Mg were not significant after controlling for use of diabetes medication.
A substantial proportion of South Asian (18%) and white (9%) women had serum Mg B0.75 mmol/L
indicating hypomagnesemia. Use of diabetes medication and indicators of poorer glucose control,
insulin
resistance, and obesity were associated with lower serum Mg in women, but not in men.
Conclusions: These results suggest that the higher incidence of diabetes in South Asians increases
their risk
forMg deficiency and that health conditions that increase Mg requirements have a greater effect on
Mg status
in women than men.