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Oral magnesium supplementation in patients with essential hypertension
T Motoyama1, H Sano, H Fukuzaki
1First Department of Internal Medicine, Kobe University School of Medicine, Japan.
Insights
Oral magnesium supplementation effectively lowers high blood pressure in patients with essential hypertension. This treatment may improve blood pressure control by activating the sodium pump and reducing serum lipids.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Nutritional Science
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Essential hypertension is a common condition with significant cardiovascular risks.
- Magnesium plays a crucial role in cellular functions, including ion transport and blood pressure regulation.
- Previous research suggests a link between magnesium levels and hypertension, but mechanisms require further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of oral magnesium supplementation on blood pressure and related physiological markers in hypertensive patients.
- To explore the relationship between magnesium intake, sodium transport, and blood pressure reduction.
- To assess the effect of magnesium on serum lipid profiles.
Main Methods:
- A 4-week study involving 21 outpatients with essential hypertension.
- Daily oral magnesium oxide (MgO) supplementation at 1 g/day.
- Monitoring of blood pressure, intraerythrocyte sodium and magnesium concentrations, and erythrocyte ouabain-sensitive 22Na efflux rate constant (Kos).
- Analysis of serum triglyceride and free fatty acid levels.
Main Results:
- Significant decreases in blood pressure and intraerythrocyte sodium concentration were observed.
- Significant increases in erythrocyte Kos and intraerythrocyte magnesium concentration occurred.
- Serum triglyceride and free fatty acid levels were reduced.
- Positive correlation found between increased Kos, increased intraerythrocyte magnesium, and decreased blood pressure.
- Prestudy intraerythrocyte sodium concentration was higher in patients with greater blood pressure reduction.
Conclusions:
- Oral magnesium supplementation may lower blood pressure by activating the cell membrane sodium pump.
- Magnesium intake appears to reduce serum lipid concentrations.
- Lower prestudy Kos and higher prestudy intraerythrocyte sodium indicate greater effectiveness of magnesium treatment for hypertension.
- Appropriate oral magnesium intake may serve as an effective non-pharmacological treatment for essential hypertension.
Abstract:
To elucidate the effects of magnesium on high blood pressure, a 4-week study of oral magnesium supplementation (MgO 1 g/day) was conducted in 21 outpatients with uncomplicated essential hypertension. During the study, blood pressure and intraerythrocyte sodium concentration decreased significantly, and the erythrocyte ouabain-sensitive 22Na efflux rate constant (Kos) and intraerythrocyte magnesium concentration both increased. Serum triglyceride and free fatty acid concentrations were reduced. Furthermore, the elevation in Kos significantly and positively correlated with both the increase in intraerythrocyte magnesium concentration and the decrease in mean blood pressure. There was a significant inverse correlation between the prestudy Kos and the decrease in mean blood pressure. In addition, when patients were divided according to their overall decrease in mean blood pressure, the prestudy intraerythrocyte sodium concentration was significantly higher in patients with a mean blood pressure decrease of more than 7 mm Hg than that of patients whose mean blood pressure decrease was less than 7 mm Hg. These results suggest that oral magnesium supplementation may lower blood pressure through the activation of a cell membrane sodium pump and may reduce serum lipid concentration. It also suggests that the lower the prestudy Kos or the higher the prestudy intraerythrocyte sodium concentration, the more effective the oral magnesium treatment is in lowering blood pressure. Therefore, we concluded that appropriate oral magnesium intake might be effective as a nonpharmacological treatment for essential hypertension.