Publication:

Preliminary study of serum magnesium in diabetes mellitus

Background Diabetes mellitus is not a single disease entity but rather a group of metabolic disorders sharing the common underlying feature of hyperglycemia. Hyperglycemia in diabetes results from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or, most commonly, both. Magnesium (Mg) is one of the most abundant ions present in living cells and its plasma concentration is remarkably constant in healthy subjects. Plasma and intracellular Mg concentrations are tightly regulated by several factors. Among them, insulin seems to be one of the most important. A poor intracellular Mg concentration, as found in noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), may result in a defective tyrosine-kinase activity at the insulin receptor level and exaggerated intracellular calcium concentration. Both events are responsible for the impairment in insulin action and a worsening of insulin resistance in noninsulin-dependent diabetic.

Methods This study was undertaken to evaluate role of serum magnesium in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Results In this cross sectional study Parameters analysed were serum magnesium and calcium in 2 groups, one: Normal healthy age matched controls not suffering from diabetes mellitus (n=50) and other: Patients of Type 2 diabetes mellitus with or without complications (n=50). Biochemical data analysed using Unpaired Students t test. Results demonstrated that serum magnesium levels were lower in type 2 diabetic patients when compared to controls.

Conclusions Magnesium and calcium deficiency may have profound ill effects on human health and should be supplemented to prevent complications.