Magnesium is a mineral that is essential to hundreds of biochemical reactions in the body – notably, the metabolism of glucose and the production of cellular energy. F. Guerrero-Romero, from the Institute at Durango (Mexico), and colleagues enrolled 116 men and non-pregnant women, ages 30 to 65 years, with hypomagnesaemia and newly diagnosed with prediabetes, in a study in which subjects were randomized to receive either magnesium chloride (30 mL, 5% solution; equivalent to 382mg of magnesium) or an inert placebo, once daily for four months. The group that received magnesium chloride displayed significant reductions in fasting and post-meal blood glucose levels, as well as reduced insulin resistance. Further, the magnesium group also showed reductions in triglycerides and increases in high-density lipoprotein (HDL, “good” cholesterol). The study authors report that: “Our results show that magnesium supplementation reduces plasma glucose levels, and improves the glycaemic status of adults with prediabetes and hypomagnesaemia.”
Mighty Mineral
Dietary supplementation of magnesium may lower blood sugar and combat insulin resistance.
Guerrero-Romero F, Simental-Mendía LE, Hernandez-Ronquillo G, Rodriguez-Moran M. “Oral magnesium supplementation improves glycaemic status in subjects with prediabetes and hypomagnesaemia: A double-blind placebo-controlled randomized trial.” Diabetes Metab. 2015 Jun;41(3):202-7.
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