[Relationship between serum magnesium concentration and obesity in Chinese adults]

To explore the relationship between concentration of serum magnesium with overweight/obesity and abdominal obesity in Chinese adults.

Data from China Health and Nutrition Survey investigated in 2009 was analyzed. Rank correlation analysis, univariate analysis and binary Logistic regression analysis were performed to analyze influence of serum magnesium concentrations, regions and gender on the prevalence of overweight/obesity and abdominal obesity.

The prevalence of overweight/obesity was 40. 2%. The concentration of serum magnesium in people withoverweight/obesity was higher than that in people with non-overweight/obesity( 0. 95 mmol/L vs. 0. 93 mmol/L, t = 7. 021, P < 0. 001). The prevalence of overweight/obesity was 33. 2%. The concentration of serum magnesium in people with abdominal obesity was higher than that in people with non-abdominal obesity( 0. 95 mmol/L vs. 0. 93 mmol/L, t = 5. 712, P < 0. 001). The serum magnesium concentration, prevalence of overweight/obesity and abdominal obesity were higher in magnesium-rich area than in the nonmagnesium-rich areas, which showed significant differences between two groups( serum magnesium: t = 8. 012, P < 0. 001; overweight/obesity: χ~2= 138. 252, P < 0. 001;abdominal obesity: χ~2= 134. 999, P < 0. 001). The rank correlation coefficients between serum magnesium concentration and prevalence of overweight/obesity and abdominal obesity were 0. 952 and 0. 796 in male, and 0. 794 and 0. 903 in female, respectively. Serum magnesium concentration was divided into four grades according to quartiles. The risk of overweight/obesity increased by 1. 207 times( 95% CI 1. 138-1. 281) when the serum magnesium increased a level, and the risk of abdominal obesity increased by 1. 187 times( 95% CI 1. 114-1. 266).

Higher serum magnesium concentration may be a risk factor for overweight/obesity and abdominal obesity. Serum magnesium concentration is moderately and even highly correlated with prevalence of obesity, and there is a gender difference in this relationship.