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.
6 August 2012
According to a new US study, folic acid fortification could help to reduce the incidence of some of the most common types of kidney and brain cancers suffered by children.
2 August 2013
Vitamin D supplementation during pregnancy may have no preventive effect against childhood wheezing when started too late, suggests a new UK study.
8 October 2013
A new US study suggests that producing genetically modified rice containing an increased amount of beta-carotene could be a good source of vitamin A for children in countries where deficiency in the vitamin is common.
