The Acute Effect of Magnesium Supplementation on Endothelial Function: A Randomized Cross-Over Pilot Study

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Health
• Nutritional Science
• Vascular Biology

Background:

• Endothelial dysfunction is an early indicator of atherosclerosis.
• Magnesium deficiency may contribute to endothelial dysfunction.
• Acute effects of oral magnesium on endothelial function require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the acute impact of oral magnesium supplementation on endothelial function.
• To compare the effects of magnesium versus a placebo on flow-mediated dilatation (FMD).
• To investigate the role of magnesium in mitigating postprandial endothelial changes.

Main Methods:

• Randomized, cross-over study design with 19 participants.
• Measurement of blood pressure and FMD before and at 60, 120 minutes post-ingestion.
• Administration of 450 mg (men) or 300 mg (women) oral magnesium supplement or placebo.
• Analysis of serum magnesium levels and FMD response.

Main Results:

• A significant interaction between treatment and time was observed for serum magnesium levels (p=0.037).
• The control group showed a decrease in FMD at 60 minutes post-ingestion (-0.085 mm).
• The magnesium-supplemented group exhibited no significant change in FMD at 60 minutes.

Conclusions:

• Oral magnesium supplementation may attenuate the reduction in FMD observed post-prandially.
• Magnesium appears to play a role in maintaining endothelial function acutely.
• Further research is warranted to confirm magnesium's protective effects on vascular health.