A Study of Magnesium Supplementation on Amplitudes of Sensory and Motor Nerves in Patients of Diabetic Neuropathy

Abstract

To Study the effect of magnesium supplementation on amplitudes of sensory and motor nerves in patients of diabetic neuropathy.
 This study was conducted on 60 diabetic neuropathy patients attending the neurology o.p.d between february 2009 to august 2010. These patients were segregated into two groups. group I (n=30) receiving magnesium and metformin therapy for a period of 16 weeks. Group II (n=30) receiving only metformin therapy.
 The blood samples were collected and analyzed for s. magnesium and fasting blood glucose at 0, 4, 8, 16 weeks, respectively. Measurement of amplitudes of sural and common peroneal nerves were done at 0, 4, 8, 16 weeks, respectively.
 Average age of males in group I was 54.36±1.18yrs and of females was 53.09±1.47yrs and in group II was 55.94±1.62yrs and of females was 52.83±1.58yrs.
 Mean baseline value for amplitude of sural nerve in group I was 4.90±0.34uV and after treatment values at 4, 8 and 16 weeks were 6.19±0.29, 7.56±0.34 and 9.64±0.59uV respectively. In Group II mean baseline value for amplitude of sural nerve was 5.13±0.50uV and after treatment values at 4, 8 and 16 weeks were 4.97+0.48, 4.85±0.51, 4.86+0.49uV respectively. Mean baseline value amplitude of common peroneal nerve in group I was 2.49±0.21mV and after treatment values at 4, 8 and 16 weeks were 3.31±0.23, 3.91+0.19 and 4.24±0.19mV respectively. In group II, mean baseline value for amplitude of common peroneal nerve was 2.58±0.25mV and after treatment values at 4, 8 and 16 weeks were 2.61±0.24, 2.64±0.24 and 2.77±0.24mV respectively.
 Statistically significant difference was observed in group I, patients’ amplitudes of sural and common peroneal nerves, before and after treatment values at 16 weeks (p<0.05). Statistically insignificant difference was observed in group II patients before and after treatment values at 16 weeks (p>0.05). This study thus concludes that anti-diabetic therapy when combined with magnesium supplementation shows improvement in amplitudes of sensory and motor nerves.