Background and aims: Magnesium plays an important role in the modulation of
vascular tone and endothelial function and can regulate glucose and lipid metabolism. Patients
with hypertension, metabolic syndrome (MetS) and diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have low body
magnesium content; indeed, magnesium supplementation has been shown to have a positive effect
on blood pressure (BP) and gluco-metabolic parameters. The aim of our study was to evaluate
the effect of magnesium supplements on hemodynamic and metabolic parameters in
healthy men with a positive family history of MetS or T2DM.
Methods and results: In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled 8-week crossover trial
with a 4 week wash-out period, oral supplements of 8.1 mmol of magnesium-pidolate or placebo
were administered twice a day to 14 healthy normomagnesemic participants, aged 23e33 years.
The primary endpoint was office BP, measured with a semiautomatic oscillometric device. Secondary
endpoints included characteristics of the MetS, namely endothelial function, arterial stiffness
and inflammation. Plasma and urinary magnesium were measured in all participants while
free intracellular magnesium was measured only in a subsample.
There was no significant difference in either systolic and diastolic BP in participants postmagnesium
supplementation and post-placebo treatment when compared to baseline BP measurements.
Further, the metabolic, inflammatory and hemodynamic parameters did not vary
significantly during the study.
Conclusions: Our study showed no beneficial effect of magnesium supplements on BP, vascular
function and glycolipid profile in young men with a family history of MetS/T2DM