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Updated: Oct 21, 2025

A Methodological Approach to Non-invasive Assessments of Vascular Function and Morphology
Published on: February 7, 2015
Magnesium intake and vascular structure and function: the Hoorn Study
Emma A Vermeulen1, Hanne B T de Jong2, Alexander G A Blomjous3
1Department of Nephrology, Amsterdam UMC, Location VUmc, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Insights
Dietary magnesium intake was not associated with vascular health markers like arterial stiffness or blood vessel function in a prospective study. This suggests magnesium
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Science
- Nutritional Epidemiology
- Vascular Biology
Background:
- Dietary and circulating magnesium are linked to reduced cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality.
- Understanding magnesium's role in vascular health is crucial for preventive strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between dietary magnesium intake and vascular structure/function markers.
- To analyze cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships in a prospective cohort.
Main Methods:
- Included 789 participants from the Hoorn Study vascular screening sub-cohort.
- Dietary magnesium intake assessed via food frequency questionnaire, categorized into tertiles.
- Vascular measures (IMT, Aix, PWV, FMD, PAD) assessed at baseline and follow-up (8 years).
- Multivariable regression models used for cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses.
Main Results:
- No significant associations were found between dietary magnesium intake and vascular outcomes.
- Highest vs. lowest magnesium intake tertiles showed no difference in PWV, FMD, IMT, Aix, or PAD risk.
- Mean magnesium intake was 328 mg/day; 55% had prior CVD and 41% had type 2 diabetes (DM2).
Conclusions:
- Dietary magnesium intake did not correlate with key markers of vascular structure and function.
- Findings suggest no direct link between magnesium consumption and vascular health in this cohort.
Purpose:
Circulating and dietary magnesium have been shown to be inversely associated with the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality in both high and low-risk populations. We aimed to examine the association between dietary magnesium intake and several measures of vascular structure and function in a prospective cohort.
Methods:
We included 789 participants who participated in the vascular screening sub-cohort of the Hoorn Study, a population-based, prospective cohort study. Baseline dietary magnesium intake was estimated with a validated food frequency questionnaire and categorised in energy-adjusted magnesium intake tertiles. Several measurements of vascular structure and function were performed at baseline and most measurements were repeated after 8 years of follow-up (n = 432). Multivariable linear and logistic regression was performed to study the cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of magnesium intake and intima-media thickness (IMT), augmentation index (Aix), pulse wave velocity (PWV), flow-mediated dilatation (FMD), and peripheral arterial disease (PAD).
Results:
Mean absolute magnesium intake was 328 ± 83 mg/day and prior CVD and DM2 was present in 55 and 41% of the participants, respectively. Multivariable regression analyses did not demonstrate associations between magnesium intake and any of the vascular outcomes. Participants in the highest compared to the lowest magnesium intake tertile demonstrated in fully adjusted cross-sectional analyses a PWV of -0.21 m/s (95% confidence interval -1.95, 1.52), a FMD of -0.03% (-0.89, 0.83) and in longitudinal analyses an IMT of 0.01 mm (-0.03, 0.06), an Aix of 0.70% (-1.69, 3.07) and an odds ratio of 0.84 (0.23, 3.11) for PAD CONCLUSION: We did not find associations between dietary magnesium intake and multiple markers of vascular structure and function, in either cross-sectional or longitudinal analyses.
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