Magnesium Found Beneficial for Postmenopausal Women

Higher intake linked to decreased levels of markers of inflammation, endothelial dysfunction

12 feb 2010-- In postmenopausal women, increased magnesium intake is associated with lower levels of some markers of systemic inflammation and endothelial dysfunction, according to a study in the February issue of Diabetes Care.

Sara Chacko, of the University of California in Los Angeles, and colleagues studied 3,713 ethnically diverse postmenopausal women aged 50 to 79 years in the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study who were free of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes at baseline.

The researchers found that magnesium intake was independently and inversely associated with blood concentrations of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, interleukin 6, tumor necrosis factor-α receptor 2, and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1. They observed no significant ethnic differences.

"These findings are consistent with those of previous studies mostly in whites and support the notion that diets high in magnesium- rich foods including whole grains, nuts, and leafy green vegetables should be encouraged for metabolic disease prevention," the authors conclude.

Abstract
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