19 June 2013
According to a new US review, elevated blood concentrations and intakes of magnesium may decrease the risk of developing cardiovascular disease by 30 %.
The review and meta-analysis comprised 16 prospective studies providing the blood magnesium levels and estimated intakes as well as documented cases of cardiovascular disease (CVD), including ischemic heart disease (IHD), among a total of 313,041 participants (1). The analysis showed that the risk of developing cardiovascular disease was reduced by 30 % in participants with incremented amounts of circulating magnesium (per 0.2 mmol/L). In addition, trends for a risk reduction of IHD and fatal IHD were shown. Higher magnesium intake (per 200 mg/day) was not significantly associated with CVD but was associated with a 22 % lower risk of IHD.
The researchers noted that these findings supported the need for clinical trials to evaluate the potential role of magnesium in the prevention of CVD. Observational and experimental studies have shown that magne-sium can exert beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system by enhancing endothelium-dependent vasodilation, improving lipid metabolism, reducing inflammation and inhibiting platelet function (2). Although marked reductions in magnesium concentrations or intakes produce adverse cardiovascular effects, such as heart rhythm changes (3), it remains unclear whether the CVD risk differs across the normal physiologic concentration range of circulating magnesium or dietary magnesium intake.
15 April 2012
Aging affects people in different ways, with a wide variation in age related physical and mental functioning. Healthier aging is achievable through modifying some lifestyle factors, such as eating a balanced diet, being more physically active and not smoking.
15 September 2015
Dr Rima Obeid, Junior Fellow at the Aarhus Institute of Advanced Studies, of Aarhus University, Denmark, cites low serum folate levels in European women as the reason why there has been no reduction in the incidence in spina bifida and other neural tube defects over the last ten years. She also comments that recent advice from some European Nutritional Societies, reducing the required intake level of folate for young women is only likely to aggravate the problem.
4 March 2011
Increased vitamin D levels seem to be associated with significant improvements in physical condition among older adults, says a new study.
