A study of magnesium intake and its possible relation to inflammation

Sammanfattning: The study was initiated to examine magnesium intake, supplementation and their relation to inflammation. Magnesium is the second most abundant extracellular ion following potassium. Outside the cell, magnesium can be found in bone tissue, cardiac muscle tissue, other tissues and in the blood. Magnesium form compounds which operate in several essential metabolic processes in the body. Magnesium deficiency may have an impact on insulin resistance and endothelial dysfunction, which may result in an increased level of inflammation. Increased inflammation over a longer period has been seen to increase the risk of common lifestyle induced diseases such as diabetes type II and coronary heart diseases. The study of magnesium and its influence on inflammation is thereby becoming important and interesting for all societies and in their effort to find solutions to maintain and increase the well-being of its individuals. The study is a literature study based on searches made in One Search and Pub Med databases. A total of ten studies were included, five for magnesium intake and five for supplementation. The majority of the studies showed a significant correlation between increased magnesium intake, dietary and supplementary, with decreased levels of inflammatory biomarkers and hints that magnesium might have a role in the inflammation process. What needs to be taken into account is that fiber intake in two studies attenuated magnesium’s inverse relation to inflammation. In addition of a decrease in inflammatory biomarker levels the risk for developing diabetes type II seemed to decrease as well with an increased intake of magnesium in one of the studies. Further studies need to be executed in order to establish the role of magnesium in inflammation and optimal dosage for prevention of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases.