MAGNESIUM SUPPLEMENTATION IMPROVES BLOOD PRESSURE AND LIPID PROFILE IN METABOLIC SYNDROME IN ELDERLY

Objective: Magnesium supplementation can decrease inflammation and atherogenic vessel damage via calcium magnesium antagonism. Blood pressure lowering effects of magnesium both on systolic and diastolic values is well documented, however the effect on lipid profile is discussed controversially. Design and method: A double-blinded, controlled, prospective study on blood pressure and lipids in 45 elderly with supplementation with 400 - 500 mg organic magnesium (aspartate or citrate, for 12 weeks) and 43 unsubstituted (controls) with metabolic syndrome is presented here. The study was performed in accordance with the declaration of Helsinki and approved by the ethic committee of the University of Münmster, Germany, registration in clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03002545). None of our patients was renal insufficient or treated with diurtics, PPI, Metformin or minerals. Results: In the magnesium supplemented group there was a significant decrease in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure values after 12 weeks (systolic: 135.5.9+/-5.4 to 128.2+/-5.1 mmHg, diastolic: 86.7+/-3.3 to 79.2+/-1.7 mmHg)(means+/-s.d.)(p< 0.01). In the control group blood pressure values did not change significantly and were similar to the supplemented group at beginning of study. Serum triglycerides (values, means+/-s.d.) decreased significantly from 197.2+/-44.4 to 162.9+/-43.7 mg/dl (p< 0.05) in the magnesium supplemented group. This effect was not noted in the group without additional magnesium therapy. No significant effect was shown in cholesterol, HDL- or LDL cholesterol in the 2 groups. Plasma magnesium concentration did not change significantly under therapy, whereas ionized magnesium blood concentration increased significantly in the supplemented group (p< 0.01). Mann-Whitney-U-Test was used for statistical analysis. Conclusions: In elderly with metabolic syndrome an additive supplementation with 400 - 500 mg organic magnesium can be beneficial on blood pressure and triglycerides, hence improving quality of life and life expectancy. The loer normal range for serum magnesium should be at least 0.85 mmol/l due to recent European recommendations.