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A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials on the effects of magnesium supplementation on insulin sensitivity and glucose control.

Pharmacological research
September 1, 2016
Luis E Simental-Mendía et al. (4 authors)
Journal ArticleMeta-AnalysisReviewSystematic ReviewHuman Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to evaluate the effect of oral magnesium supplementation on insulin sensitivity and glucose control in diabetic and non-diabetic individuals.

Results Summary

Magnesium supplementation significantly improved the HOMA-IR index, particularly with durations ≥4 months, but did not significantly affect plasma glucose, HbA1c, or insulin levels overall. Longer supplementation (≥4 months) showed greater benefits for fasting glucose and HOMA-IR.

Population

Diabetic and non-diabetic individuals.

Effective Dosage

Not specified in the abstract.

Duration

Subgroup analysis compared <4 months versus ≥4 months.

Interactions

None mentioned.

Extracted Claims (6)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
oral magnesium supplementation
decrease
HOMA-IR index
diabetic and non-diabetic individuals
WMD: -0.67, 95% CI: -1.20, -0.14, p=0.013
A significant effect was observed
#1
magnesium supplementation
no change
plasma glucose
diabetic and non-diabetic individuals
WMD: -0.20mmol/L, 95% CI: -0.45, 0.05, p=0.119
not significant effect
#2
magnesium supplementation
no change
HbA1c
diabetic and non-diabetic individuals
WMD: 0.018mmol/L, 95% CI: -0.10, 0.13, p=0.756
not significant effect
#3
magnesium supplementation
no change
insulin
diabetic and non-diabetic individuals
WMD: -2.22mmol/L, 95% CI: -9.62, 5.17, p=0.556
not significant effect
#4
magnesium supplementation for ≥4 months
increase
HOMA-IR index
diabetic and non-diabetic subjects
-
significantly improves
#5
magnesium supplementation for ≥4 months
increase
fasting glucose
diabetic and non-diabetic subjects
-
significantly improves
#6
Abstract

A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the effect of oral magnesium supplementation on insulin sensitivity and glucose control in both diabetic and non-diabetic individuals. PubMed-Medline, SCOPUS, Web of Science and Google Scholar databases were searched (from inception to November 25, 2015) to identify RCTs evaluating the effect of magnesium on insulin sensitivity and glucose control. A random-effects model and generic inverse variance method were used to compensate for the heterogeneity of studies. Publication bias, sensitivity analysis, and meta-regression assessments were conducted using standard methods. The impact of magnesium supplementation on plasma concentrations of glucose, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), insulin, and HOMA-IR index was assessed in 22, 14, 12 and 10 treatment arms, respectively. A significant effect of magnesium supplementation was observed on HOMA-IR index (WMD: -0.67, 95% CI: -1.20, -0.14, p=0.013) but not on plasma glucose (WMD: -0.20mmol/L, 95% CI: -0.45, 0.05, p=0.119), HbA1c (WMD: 0.018mmol/L, 95% CI: -0.10, 0.13, p=0.756), and insulin (WMD: -2.22mmol/L, 95% CI: -9.62, 5.17, p=0.556). A subgroup analysis comparing magnesium supplementation durations of <4 months versus ≥4 months, exhibited a significant difference for fasting glucose concentrations (p<0.001) and HOMA-IR (p=0.001) in favor of the latter subgroup. Magnesium supplementation for ≥4 months significantly improves the HOMA-IR index and fasting glucose, in both diabetic and non-diabetic subjects. The present findings suggest that magnesium may be a beneficial supplement in glucose metabolic disorders.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
AdultAgedAged, 80 and overBiomarkersBlood GlucoseDiabetes MellitusDietary SupplementsFemaleGlycated HemoglobinHumansHypoglycemic AgentsInsulinInsulin ResistanceMagnesiumMaleMiddle AgedRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicTime FactorsTreatment Outcome
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy70/10
Quality85/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations86
Citations/Year9.6
Relative Citation Ratio4.21
NIH Percentile90.9%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.95
Weight Score2.14
Normalized Score0.65
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