A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials on the effects of magnesium supplementation on insulin sensitivity and glucose control.
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.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
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.