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Magnesium intake is inversely associated with coronary artery calcification: the Framingham Heart Study
Adela Hruby1, Christopher J O'Donnell2, Paul F Jacques1
1Nutritional Epidemiology Program, Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts.
Insights
Higher magnesium intake is linked to reduced arterial calcification in adults without cardiovascular disease. This suggests magnesium may help prevent conditions like coronary artery calcification and abdominal aortic calcification.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Health
- Nutritional Science
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Emerging evidence from animal and cellular studies suggests magnesium's potential role in preventing atherosclerotic calcification.
- However, human data on the association between magnesium intake and atherosclerotic calcification remains limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between magnesium intake and the presence of coronary artery calcification (CAC) and abdominal aortic calcification (AAC).
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 2,695 participants from the Framingham Heart Study, free of cardiovascular disease.
- Self-reported total magnesium intake was assessed using food frequency questionnaires.
- Coronary artery calcification and abdominal aortic calcification were quantified using Multi-Detector Computed Tomography (MDCT) and modified Agatston scores, with analyses adjusted for numerous covariates.
Main Results:
- A 50-mg/day increase in magnesium intake was associated with a 22% reduction in CAC (p < 0.001) and a 12% reduction in AAC (p = 0.07).
- Individuals with the highest magnesium intake had significantly lower odds of any CAC (58% lower, p trend <0.001) and any AAC (34% lower, p trend = 0.01) compared to those with the lowest intake.
- Inverse associations between magnesium intake and arterial calcification were stronger in women than in men.
Conclusions:
- Magnesium intake is inversely associated with arterial calcification in community-dwelling adults without pre-existing cardiovascular disease.
- These findings support a potential role for magnesium in the prevention of cardiovascular events, such as stroke and fatal coronary heart disease.
Objectives:
The aim of this study was to examine whether magnesium intake is associated with coronary artery calcification (CAC) and abdominal aortic calcification (AAC).
Background:
Animal and cell studies suggest that magnesium may prevent calcification within atherosclerotic plaques underlying cardiovascular disease. Little is known about the association of magnesium intake and atherosclerotic calcification in humans.
Methods:
We examined cross-sectional associations of self-reported total (dietary and supplemental) magnesium intake estimated by food frequency questionnaire with CAC and AAC in participants of the Framingham Heart Study who were free of cardiovascular disease and underwent Multi-Detector Computed Tomography (MDCT) of the heart and abdomen (n = 2,695; age: 53 ± 11 years), using multivariate-adjusted Tobit regression. CAC and AAC were quantified using modified Agatston scores (AS). Models were adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, smoking status, systolic blood pressure, fasting insulin, total-to-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio, use of hormone replacement therapy (women only), menopausal status (women only), treatment for hyperlipidemia, hypertension, cardiovascular disease prevention, or diabetes, as well as self-reported intake of calcium, vitamins D and K, saturated fat, fiber, alcohol, and energy. Secondary analyses included logistic regressions of CAC and AAC outcomes as cut-points (AS >0 and AS ≥90th percentile for age and sex), as well as sex-stratified analyses.
Results:
In fully adjusted models, a 50-mg/day increment in self-reported total magnesium intake was associated with 22% lower CAC (p < 0.001) and 12% lower AAC (p = 0.07). Consistent with these observations, the odds of having any CAC were 58% lower (p trend: <0.001) and any AAC were 34% lower (p trend: 0.01), in those with the highest compared to those with the lowest magnesium intake. Stronger inverse associations were observed in women than in men.
Conclusions:
In community-dwelling participants free of cardiovascular disease, self-reported magnesium intake was inversely associated with arterial calcification, which may play a contributing role in magnesium's protective associations in stroke and fatal coronary heart disease.
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