Association of Magnesium Intake With Liver Cancer Incidence Among Postmenopausal Women

Abstract

Abstract Objectives Magnesium, an essential mineral, are antagonistic in many physiologic processes. However, few studies have investigated the associations of magnesium intake with liver cancer risk. Methods We evaluated the association between intake of magnesium and risk of liver cancer in the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) Observational Study. This analysis included 77,170 participants who completed a food frequency questionnaire, free of cancer, and without missing values for follow-up dates and body mass index (BMI). Magnesium intakes from diet and supplements were estimated through the baseline food frequency questionnaire. Cox regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Results After 15.8 years’ cumulative follow-up, there were 207 liver cancer cases. After adjustment for known risk factors of liver cancer, and intakes of energy, total vitamin D and calcium, higher intake of magnesium was inversely associated with risk of liver cancer (HR = 0.26, 95% CI, 0.09–0.76) for highest vs. lowest quartile; P trend = 0.01). Every 100 mg increase in intake of magnesium was associated with a 34% reduction in the risk of liver cancer. Although interactions between magnesium intake and alcohol use and BMI at baseline were not significant (P > 0.05), inverse associations between magnesium intake and liver cancer risk were primarily presented among postmenopausal women who were current alcohol drinkers at the baseline and had BMI ≥ 25. Conclusions We found that higher magnesium intake may reduce liver cancer incidence among postmenopausal women particularly among those who were current alcohol drinkers and overweight/obese. Funding Sources No