Associations of magnesium intake with coronary artery calcification in the Framingham Heart Study

Abstract

Magnesium (Mg) may prevent vascular calcification, including calcification within atherosclerotic plaques underlying cardiovascular disease (CVD). We examined cross‐sectional associations of Mg intake, ascertained by food frequency questionnaire, on coronary artery (CAC) and abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) in men (N=1386, mean age 51±11 y) and women (N=1359, 55±11 y) free of CVD who participated in the Framingham Heart Study Multi‐Detector Computed Tomography (MDCT) Sub‐study. The Agatston score, a measure of calcium from CT scans, was ln‐transformed in sex‐specific Tobit models adjusted for covariates including age, BMI, major CVD risk factors and treatment for CVD risk factors, as well as intakes of calcium, vitamins D and K, saturated fat, fiber, alcohol, and energy, and hormone replacement therapy use in women. In women, a 50‐mg/d increment in Mg intake was associated with 24% lower CAC and 19% lower AAC (beta [SE]: −0.28 [0.11], P<0.01; −0.21 [0.10], P=0.05, respectively). Mg was not significantly associated with either CAC or AAC in men (−0.10 [0.08], P=0.18; −0.05 [0.08], P=0.51, respectively). The origins of the discrepant associations between men and women are unknown and require further study.Grant Funding Source: American Heart Association Predoctoral Fellowship, the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute's Framingham Heart Study (Contract No.N01‐HC‐25195), and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA Agreement No. 58–1950‐7–707).