Higher dietary magnesium intake and higher
magnesium status are associated with lower
prevalence of coronary heart disease in patients
with Type 2 Diabetes
In type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D), the handling of magnesium is disturbed. Magnesium
deficiency may be associated with a higher risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). We investigated
the associations between (1) dietary magnesium intake; (2) 24 h urinary magnesium excretion;
and (3) plasma magnesium concentration with prevalent CHD in T2D patients. This cross-sectional
analysiswas performed on baseline data fromthe DIAbetes and LifEstyle Cohort Twente-1 (DIALECT-1,
n = 450, age 63 � 9 years, 57%men, and diabetes duration of 11 (7–18) years). Prevalence ratios (95% CI)
of CHD by sex-specific quartiles of magnesium indicators, as well as by magnesium intake per dietary
source, were determined using multivariable Cox proportional hazard models. CHD was present
in 100 (22%) subjects. Adjusted CHD prevalence ratios for the highest compared to the lowest
quartiles were 0.40 (0.20, 0.79) for magnesium intake, 0.63 (0.32, 1.26) for 24 h urinary magnesium
excretion, and 0.62 (0.32, 1.20) for plasma magnesium concentration. For every 10 mg increase of
magnesium intake from vegetables, the prevalence of CHD was, statistically non-significantly, lower
(0.75 (0.52, 1.08)). In this T2D cohort, higher magnesium intake, higher 24 h urinary magnesium
excretion, and higher plasma magnesium concentration are associated with a lower prevalence
of CHD