Insulin Sensitivity in Relation to Serum Magnesium in Obese Children

Abstract Background Childhood obesity is one of the most alarming challenges developing in today's world and is associated with insulin resistance. Magnesium level is inversely correlated with obesity and has a significant role in glucose hemostasis and insulin resistance Aim of Work The study aimed to assess the relation between serum magnesium and insulin resistance in obese children Patients and Methods This cross sectional study was conducted on 60 obese children recruited from Pediatric Outpatient Clinics at Tur Sinai district, South Sinai. The participants were subjected to nutritional analysis, 24 hours recalls including breakfast, snacks, lunch and dinner was taken from each patient and the data was analyzed using food analysis software program, anthropometric measurements including height, weight, body mass index(BMI) and their z-scores, waist hip ratio(WHR) and waist height ratio (WHtR). Laboratory parameters including magnesium level, fasting insulin, fasting glucose, and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) calculation. Results All participants in our study were obese with BMI > 95 percentile according to CDC growth charts, with 35 were males (58.3 %) and 25 were females (41.6 %). Nutritional analysis showed low dietary magnesium intake with mean ±SD (330.01 ± 104.07) mg/day. Regarding laboratory investigations, magnesium level was low in 39 cases (65 %), fasting insulin was high in 45 cases (75 %) and HOMA IR was severe in 33 cases (55%) and was moderate in 15 cases (25 %). Also, fasting blood glucose was high reaching prediabetic level in 39 cases (65%). Serum magnesium level had a statistically significant negative correlation with fasting blood glucose (r= -0.369, p = 0.004), fasting insulin (r=-0.537, p = 0.000), HOMA IR (r= -0.458, p = 0.000), waist height ratio (r= -0.285, p = 0.027) and waist hip ratio (r= -0.260, p = 0.045). Conclusions Low serum magnesium levels may contribute to the development of insulin resistance in obese children.