Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Low magnesium levels may increase stroke risk

Low blood levels of magnesium may increase the risk of stroke by 25 per cent, suggest findings from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology. More magnesium, potassium and calcium has been inversely linked to hypertension in some observational studies. The new study supports the potential of magnesium to reduce the risk of stroke possibly via an anti-hypertensive mechanism, A large portion of adults does not meet the RDA for magnesium (320 mg per day for women and 420 mg per day for men). Study details Over 14,000 men and women aged between 45 and 64 took part in the study, and during the course of 15 years of follow-up the researchers documented 577 cases of ischemic stroke. The incidence of stroke was highest amongst diabetics and people with hypertension, added the researchers. Blood levels of magnesium were negatively associated with the risk of stroke.

A recent study by researchers at Stockholm's Karolinska Institutet, reported that for every 100 milligram increase in magnesium intake, the risk of developing type-2 diabetes decreased by 15 per cent (Journal of Internal Medicine).

Bonnie - a long, prevention-based structure such as this is exactly how nutrient studies should be performed. While the results are not surprising to me, it does the heart good to see such positives for my favorite nutrient.

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