Medicine for Africa - Medical Information Service
IABETES Type 2 -
Can You get Enough Magnesium?
Recently conducted research suggests, that one’s diabetes risk may decrease as magnesium (Mg) intake increases.
Do you get enough magnesium in your diet? Did you know that it may help prevent the development of type 2 diabetes?
Dr. Ka He from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and colleagues have found that individuals who taken the most magnesium from foods and nutritional vitamin supplements were about 50 % less prone to develop diabetes within the next twenty years, as compared to people who took in the least amount of magnesium.
Within their study, they checked out magnesium intake and diabetes risk in 4,497 people aged 18 to 30, none of whom were diabetic at the study's outset. During a 20-year follow-up period, 330 of the study participants developed diabetes.
People with the highest magnesium intake (on average – 200 milligrams of Mg per 1,000 calories of food intake) were 47 percent less likely to develop diabetes than others with the lowest intakes (on average – 100 milligrams of Mg/1,000 calories).
The investigators noted, however, that still, much large clinical trials testing the results of magnesium on diabetes risk are essential to determine, whether a causal relationship truly exists.
The final results of the study could explain why eating whole grain products, which contain a relatively large amount of magnesium, is linked to lower diabetes risk. Even though, whole grains are a common supply of magnesium, there are numerous other sources of magnesium to consider.
Vegetables, for example spinach, are a great source, because the center of the chlorophyll molecule (which gives green vegetables their color) contains magnesium. Some legumes (beans and peas), nuts and seeds, and whole, unrefined grains will also be good sources for invreasing your magnesium intake.
Tap water can be a source of magnesium, however the amount varies based on the water supply. Water that naturally contains more minerals is described as "hard."
The proposed reasons, why an increased intake of magnesium could lower the risk for developing type 2 diabetes vary, but according to the National Institutes of Health (USA), magnesium plays a crucial role in carbohydrate metabolism. It may influence the release and activity of insulin, the hormone that helps manage blood glucose (sugar) levels.
The lesson?
Increasing magnesium intake could be very important for improving insulin sensitivity (and thus, its effectiveness), reducing systemic inflammation, and decreasing one’s overall risk of developing diabetes.
So – what are you waiting for?
Start today, and introduce more magnesium rich foods to your daily diet!
Author: A. Bernstein is writing, in order to assist individuals to prevent Diabetes and improve the awareness on healthy eating.
See Hypoglycemic Diet
Source for this article: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_103722.html
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