Serum magnesium and C-reactive protein levels

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Health
• Nutritional Biochemistry
• Inflammation Research

Background:

• Low magnesium levels (hypomagnesemia) are increasingly recognized as a potential health concern.
• High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) is a key biomarker for systemic inflammation.
• The relationship between magnesium status and inflammatory markers in children requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between serum magnesium levels and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) in children.
• To test the hypothesis that magnesium deficiency correlates with elevated hsCRP.

Main Methods:

• A community-based cross-sectional study involving 488 healthy children aged 10-13 years.
• Two-stage cluster sampling was employed in Durango, Mexico.
• Measurements included serum magnesium, hsCRP, lipid profile, glucose, and insulin levels.

Main Results:

• 22.3% of children had elevated hsCRP and 20.7% had low serum magnesium; 87.1% of those with low magnesium also had elevated hsCRP.
• Children with both hypomagnesemia and elevated hsCRP exhibited unfavorable metabolic profiles (higher glucose, insulin, triglycerides; lower HDL-cholesterol).
• Multivariate logistic regression revealed a significant association between low serum magnesium and high hsCRP (OR 4.1; 95% CI 1.3-10.8).

Conclusions:

• Magnesium depletion is independently associated with elevated hsCRP levels in children.
• Hypomagnesemia and low-grade inflammation appear to be interactive risk factors.
• Findings suggest potential benefits of maintaining adequate magnesium status for reducing inflammation.