Dietary Magnesium Levels Research Articles

Could commercial meal kits be part of the solution to food insecurity during pregnancy? An Australian exploratory study.

To explore the nutritional content of meal kits from two main Australian companies over a 6-week period against healthy eating guidelines for pregnancy. Across the 6-week period, weekly meal kits from both Provider 1 and Provider 2 were purchased, 36 individual meals were assessed. All data were analysed for the development of a macronutrient and micronutrient profile of meals. Extracted data were macronutrient, vitamin, and mineral composition, which were compared against the healthy eating guidelines for pregnant women in Australia and New Zealand. Meal kits include higher levels of sodium, and lower levels of dietary fibre, calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron, thiamin, riboflavin, grains, and dairy when compared against the guidelines for healthy eating for pregnant women in Australia and New Zealand. Meal kits may increase meals prepared and consumed in the home, and thanks to the clear instructions and pre-portioned ingredients, may reduce stress related to food preparation. They have the potential to provide nutritionally adequate meals to pregnant women as a way to mitigate food insecurity or hunger during pregnancy and may provide some nutritional benefits and have the potential to remove some of the challenges with maintaining an adequate diet when pregnant.

The effects and predictive value of calcium and magnesium concentrations on nutritional improvement, inflammatory response and diagnosis in patients with Crohn's disease.

Crohn's disease (CD) is a progressive inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract associated with malnutrition, high levels of inflammation and calcium and magnesium deficiencies. However, the relationships between these symptoms are poorly defined. Seventy-six adult CD patients who had not yet started treatment and 83 healthy volunteers were recruited. The dietary intakes, serum calcium and magnesium levels, nutritional indicators and biochemical markers of disease activity were measured. Most participants had inadequate magnesium and calcium intake. The serum magnesium and calcium levels, as well as nutritional and inflammatory indicators, differed significantly between CD patients and controls, especially in the active phase. Serum levels of magnesium and calcium correlated with both nutritional status and inflammation. The cut-off values for CD development were 0.835 mmol/L (magnesium) and 2.315 mmol/L (calcium), whereas those for the active phase were 0.785 and 2.28 mmol/L, respectively. Adequate intake of magnesium and calcium may both improve the nutritional status of CD patients and reduce inflammation, benefiting disease relief. As both magnesium and calcium reflect CD status, they may be useful markers for CD diagnosis and disease activity.

Dietary magnesium requirement on dietary minerals and physiological function of juvenile hybrid sturgeon (Acipenser schrenckii\u2640 \xd7 Acipenser baerii\u2642)

Sturgeons are an economically important freshwater aquacultural fish in China and elsewhere. Research was conducted to study the magnesium requirement of juvenile hybrid sturgeon (Acipenser schrenckii♀ × Acipenser baerii♂) based on mineral composition, proximate chemical analysis, antioxidant enzyme levels, and growth metrics. Different levels of magnesium supplements (43.2, 157.3, 326.5, 549.6, 743.9, 938.4, and 1118.2 mg kg−1) were fed to juvenile sturgeon for 8 weeks. Five hundred twenty-five juvenile hybrid sturgeons (an average initial body weight of 7.65 g) were randomly divided into 7 groups with 3 replicates each (25 fish per replicate, tanks of 100×50×50 cm, dissolved oxygen ≥ 5.0 mg L−1, 12 light:12 dark) and fed 4 times per day with the experimental diets containing 40.78% crude protein and 10.03% crude fat. The body tissues and blood of fish were then sampled and analyzed. Growth performance was not significantly different between treatments (P>0.05). The optimal dietary magnesium requirement for hybrid sturgeon was estimated to be 355.16, 573.6, or 584.6 mg kg−1 dietary magnesium based on whole-body Mg retention, the whole-body or vertebrae magnesium content versus dietary magnesium levels. The whole-body calcium to phosphorus ratio of the 43.2 and 326.5 mg kg−1 groups was significantly higher than that of the 938.4 mg kg−1 group (P< 0.05). A dietary magnesium concentration of 350–700 mg kg−1 improved the antioxidant capacity by decreasing the serum malondialdehyde and enhancing serum superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase activities.

A divalent boost from magnesium.

Enhanced levels of dietary magnesium improve long-term memory in fruit flies.

Effects of dietary magnesium supplementation on growth, feed utilization, nucleic acid ratio and antioxidant status of fingerling Heteropneustes fossilis

To investigate the effects of dietary magnesium on growth, feed utilization, nucleic acid ratio and antioxidant status of Heteropneustes fossilis and determine the optimum dietary magnesium requirement, basal diet (400 g/kg crude protein and 17.89 MJ/kg gross energy) supplemented with magnesium sulfate at 0, 2.02, 4.05, 6.08, 8.11 and 10.14 g/kg diet, yielding 0, 0.20, 0.40, 0.60, 0.80 and 1.0 g magnesium per kg of the diet were fed to triplicate groups of fishes. Analyzed values of dietary magnesium were found to be 0.06, 0.28, 0.45, 0.68, 0.88 and 1.05 g/kg. Increasing dietary magnesium levels significantly (P < 0.05) enhanced the absolute weight gain (AWG), specific growth rate (SGR), RNA-DNA ratio, protein retention efficiency (PRE) and protein gain (PG) up to 0.68 g/kg. Biometric indices were also found to improve up to 0.68 g/kg magnesium and then remained static. Antioxidant status in terms of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and malondialdehyde (MDA) also exhibited significant improvement (P < 0.05) in response to incremental levels of dietary magnesium up to 0.68 g/kg. The whole-body composition also reflected significant changes up to magnesium level of 0.68 g/kg diet. Serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and magnesium concentration improved with the increasing magnesium level up to 0.88 g/kg diet. Improvement in whole-body and vertebrae mineralization in response to increasing dietary magnesium levels was also noted up to 0.88 g/kg diet. Broken-line regression analysis of SGR, PG, RNA-DNA ratio, serum SOD activity and vertebrae magnesium data against increasing levels of dietary magnesium indicated the optimum requirement of H. fossilis in the range of 0.65−0.79 g/kg diet.

The Effect of Different Levels of Dietary Magnesium on Eggshell Quality and Laying Hen's Performance.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of different levels of dietary magnesium (Mg) on eggshell quality and laying hen's performance. Four dietary treatments including a commercial-type basal diet containing 3.19g/kgMg and three additional diets supplemented with 2, 4, or 6g/kg magnesium oxide (MgO) to provide 4.03, 4.87, or 5.71g/kgMg were used in a completely randomized design. A total of 120 Bovans White layers at the age of 35weeks were fed with dietary treatments for 8weeks. Results indicated that increasing concentrations of Mg in the diets significantly increased hen-day egg production and feed intake (P < 0.05). Dietary Mg supplementation had no effect on egg weight, feed conversion ratio, and average daily weight gain. Eggshell weight, thickness, and strength were significantly increased by adding Mg to the diets (P < 0.05). Dietary treatments significantly increased yolk weight (P < 0.05) but decreased yolk color (P < 0.05). Albumen weight, Haugh unit, yolk shape, and egg shape index were similar among the dietary treatments. Eggshell Mg content (g/kg of dry matter) was significantly increased by the inclusion of Mg in the diets. In conclusion, the results of this study indicated that supplementation of Mg up to 5.71g/kg diet improved eggshell quality and laying hen's performance.

The association between serum and dietary magnesium with cardiovascular disease risk factors in Iranian adults with metabolic syndrome

BackgroundChronic magnesium deficiency is associated with obesity, hyperglycemia, hypertension and dyslipidemia. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between serum and dietary magnesium levels among Iranian adults with metabolic syndrome (MetS). MethodsA total of 853 participants (including 269 and 584 subjects with, or without MetS, respectively) were recruited as part of the Mashhad stroke and heart atherosclerotic disorder (MASHAD) study. Demographic data, anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, biochemical parameters and serum magnesium were determined in all participants. The first quartile of serum magnesium (<0.94 mg/dl) was considered as a low value for serum magnesium. ResultsIn this study a low serum magnesium was found in 22.7% (n = 61) of subjects with MetS and in 22.1% (n = 129) in individuals without MetS (P-value > 0.05). Dietary magnesium insufficiency [<67% of the recommended daily allowances (RDA)] was observed in 30.3% (n = 44) of individuals with MetS and 69.7% (n = 101) of individuals without MetS (P > 0.05). There were no significant differences between serum and dietary magnesium levels among subjects with MetS and individuals without MetS (P-value > 0.05). Moreover, there was no significant difference in serum and dietary magnesium levels between individuals with or without MetS (P > 0.05).A low serum magnesium was associated with a higher fasting plasma glucose in individuals with MetS (P < 0.05). ConclusionsThe results showed that serum and dietary magnesium status is related to several cardiovascular risk factors including body mass index, waist circumference, total cholesterol, systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Furthermore, an inverse association was found between serum magnesium levels with diabetes mellitus.

Quantitative Association Between Serum/Dietary Magnesium and Cardiovascular Disease/Coronary Heart Disease Risk: A Dose-Response Meta-analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies.

The quantitative association between serum/dietary magnesium and cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains unclear. We conducted a dose-response meta-analysis to evaluate the quantitative association between serum/dietary magnesium and CVD, including coronary heart disease (CHD). PubMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Web of Science were searched for publications. STATA 12.0 was used to analyze data. We used the random-effects model to reduce heterogeneity. Eighteen prospective cohort studies with 544,581 participants and 22,658 CVD cases were included. The follow-up duration was 1-28 years. The pooled relative risk (RR) of CVD for the relatively normal versus lowest serum and dietary magnesium level was 0.64 {[95% confidence interval (CI): 0.51-0.80] and 0.90 [95% CI: 0.84-0.96]}. The pooled RR of CHD for the relatively normal versus lowest serum and dietary magnesium level was 0.70 (95% CI: 0.57-0.85) and 0.86 (95% CI: 0.77-0.94). We noted a significant association between increasing serum magnesium levels (per 0.1-mg/dL increase) and risk of CVD (RR: 0.93, 95% CI: 0.88-0.97) and CHD (RR: 0.90, 95% CI: 0.84-0.96) and between dietary magnesium levels (per 100-mg/d increase) and risk of CVD (RR: 0.90, 95% CI: 0.83-0.96) and CHD (RR: 0.92, 95% CI: 0.82-0.98). Serum/dietary Mg level comparisons presented a 7%-10% decrease in CVD/CHD risk. The dose-response meta-analyses showed linear relationships between serum magnesium and CVD (Pnonlinearity = 0.833) or CHD (Pnonlinearity = 0.193) and dietary magnesium and CVD (Pnonlinearity = 0.463) or CHD (Pnonlinearity = 0.440). Increasing dietary magnesium or serum magnesium level is linearly and inversely associated with the risk of total CVD and CHD events.

Commentary on Zhao et al Manuscript Entitled: "Quantitative Association Between Serum/Dietary Magnesium and Cardiovascular Disease/Coronary Heart Disease Risk: A Dose-Response Meta-analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies": Magnesium and Cardiovascular Disease.

Commentary on Zhao et al Manuscript Entitled: "Quantitative Association Between Serum/Dietary Magnesium and Cardiovascular Disease/Coronary Heart Disease Risk: A Dose-Response Meta-analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies": Magnesium and Cardiovascular Disease.

Blood and dietary magnesium levels are not linked with lower prostate cancer risk in black or white men

Recent studies suggest a diet low in dietary magnesium intake or lower blood magnesium levels is linked with increased prostate cancer risk. This study investigates the race-specific link between blood magnesium and calcium levels, or dietary magnesium intake, and the diagnosis of low-grade and high-grade prostate cancer. The study included 637 prostate cancer cases and 715 biopsy-negative controls (50% black) recruited from Nashville, TN or Durham, NC. Blood was collected at the time of recruitment, and dietary intake was assessed by food frequency questionnaire. Percent genetic African ancestry was determined as a compliment to self-reported race. Blood magnesium levels and dietary magnesium intake were significantly lower in black compared to white men. However, magnesium levels or intake were not associated with risk of total prostate cancer or aggressive prostate cancer. Indeed, a higher calcium-to-magnesium diet intake was significantly protective for high-grade prostate cancer in black (OR = 0.66 (0.45, 0.96), p = 0.03) but not white (OR = 1.00 (0.79, 1.26), p = 0.99) men. In summary, there was a statistically significant difference in magnesium intake between black and white men, but the biological impact was unclear, and we did not confirm a lower prostate cancer risk associated with magnesium levels.

Dietary magnesium deficiency impaired intestinal structural integrity in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella)

Grass carp (223.85–757.33 g) were fed diets supplemented with magnesium (73.54–1054.53 mg/kg) for 60 days to explore the impacts of magnesium deficiency on the growth and intestinal structural integrity of the fish. The results demonstrated that magnesium deficiency suppressed the growth and damaged the intestinal structural integrity of the fish. We first demonstrated that magnesium is partly involved in (1) attenuating antioxidant ability by suppressing Nrf2 signalling to decrease antioxidant enzyme mRNA levels and activities (except CuZnSOD mRNA levels and activities); (2) aggravating apoptosis by activating JNK (not p38MAPK) signalling to upregulate proapoptotic protein (Apaf-1, Bax and FasL) and caspase-2, -3, -7, -8 and -9 gene expression but downregulate antiapoptotic protein (Bcl-2, IAP and Mcl-1b) gene expression; (3) weakening the function of tight junctional complexes (TJs) by promoting myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) signalling to downregulate TJ gene expression [except claudin-7, ZO-2b and claudin-15 gene expression]. Additionally, based on percent weight gain (PWG), against reactive oxygen species (ROS), against caspase-9 and claudin-3c in grass carp, the optimal dietary magnesium levels were calculated to be 770.38, 839.86, 856.79 and 811.49 mg/kg, respectively.

Dietary magnesium requirement for fingerlings of Rohu (Labeo rohita)

The present study was performed to quantify the dietary magnesium requirement of fingerling Labeo rohita (5.9 ± 0.14 cm; 1.73 ± 0.06 g) by feeding six casein-gelatin based (350 g kg−1 crude protein; 16.72 kJ g−1 gross energy) purified experimental diets with incremental levels of magnesium (0.06, 0.27, 0.46, 0.66, 0.87 and 1.07 g kg−1 diet) to triplicate groups of fish at 08:00, 12:00 and 16:00 h. Live weight gain (LWG), specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio, protein gain (PG) and whole body crude protein improved with the increase in dietary magnesium levels up to 0.46 g kg−1 and then stabilized (P > .05). Hepatosomatic index, viscerosomatic index and condition factor improved with increasing levels of dietary magnesium from 0.06 g to 0.46 g kg−1 of diet. However, magnesium concentration in whole body, muscle, vertebrae and scales increased significantly with increase in dietary magnesium levels up to 0.66 g kg−1 of diet, whereupon the response plateaued. Variation in dietary magnesium levels significantly affected liver malondialdehyde content and superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities. Broken-line regression analysis of LWG, SGR and PG against dietary levels of magnesium indicated the optimal dietary magnesium requirement of fingerling L. rohita at 0.44, 0.44 and 0.45 g kg−1 of the diet, respectively, whereas that based on magnesium concentrations in whole body and vertebrae and serum ALP activity, it was found to be at 0.66, 0.68 and 0.74 g kg−1 of the diet, respectively.

Identification of possible nutritional and stress risk factors in the development of marmoset wasting syndrome.

Marmoset wasting syndrome (MWS) describes a series of symptoms in callitrichids that lead to general weakness and a failure to thrive in captive conditions such as zoological institutions. Though the cause of MWS has not been identified, the majority of hypotheses are linked to deficiencies of specific nutrients and increased stress levels. Questionnaires were sent to zoos requesting information on diets and housing of currently living and dead callitrichids before their deaths, as well as their postmortem reports. Risk factors for development and occurrence of MWS include close proximity of predator enclosures and high levels of dietary magnesium and zinc. Variables with effects which may protect against the development of MWS included provision of a nest box, natural trees within enclosure, reduced visibility to visitors, as well as dietary factors such as higher concentrations of potassium and fiber fractions. The protective effects of limited concentrate feeds and increased total dietary fiber may help reduce the risks of developing MWS. The minerals may not have biological implications in MWS per se, however, they may be reflective of diets too high in concentrates and too low in plant matter. Habitat designs that are less naturalistic and those which provide insufficient privacy or hide areas may increase chronic stress for callitrichid species, possibly because of visitor-related stress. Other causes of chronic stress in captive zoo populations should be the topic of further research to reduce occurrence of MWS.

Influence of dietary magnesium and selenium levels in finishing diets on growth performance and carcass meat quality of feedlot Pelibuey lambs

Abstract. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of supplemental dietary selenium (Se) and magnesium (Mg) on feedlot lambs. Sixty-four male lambs were randomly distributed to the following treatments: 1) low level of Mg and Se: diet with 0.18% of Mg and 0.1 μg Se/g, 2) with supplementation of magnesium oxide (MgO): diet with 0.32% of Mg and 0.1 μg Se/g, 3) with supplementation of Sodium selenite (Na2SeO3): diet with 0.3 μg Se/g and 0.18 % of Mg, 4) With supplementation of MgO and Na2SeO3: diet with 0.32% of Mg and 0.3 μg Se/g. There were no differences (P&gt;0.05) in the average daily gain and feed conversion but Se supplement with Na2SeO3 (0.3 μg Se/g) enhanced dry matter intake, dressing percentage (P&lt;0.05) and leg muscle weight (P&lt;0.02). The average values of the water retained potential, coordinate L, a, and sensory analysis were different with Se (P&lt;0.05). Magnesium suplemented as inorganic source (0.32% of Mg) enhanced (P&lt;0.05) some characteristics in sensorial meat analysis.

Lower intake of magnesium and dietary fiber increases the incidence of type 2 diabetes in Taiwanese

Several studies have indicated an inverse association between the incidence of diabetes mellitus and magnesium and dietary fiber intake. Few studies have examined both of these associations together, not to mention in Asian populations with prospective study design. We therefore aimed to study how dietary magnesium and fiber intake levels affect diabetes incidence separately or in combination, in a prospective study in Taiwan. The study subjects were recruited for a longitudinal study, CardioVascular Disease risk FACtor Two-township Study cycle 2 from November 1990. Data from complete baseline information on dietary and biochemical profile and at least one additional follow-up visit were gathered on a total of 1604 healthy subjects aged 30 years and over. Cox proportional hazard model was used to study the association between diabetes incidence and dietary magnesium and fiber intake level estimated from a food frequency questionnaire. A total of 141 diabetes mellitus events were identified and confirmed during the 4.6 years of follow-up (7365.1 person-years). A significantly higher diabetes risk was observed for people in the lowest quintile of total dietary fiber intake (hazard ratio = 2.04; 95% CI = 1.17-3.53) and magnesium intake (hazard ratio = 2.61; 95% CI = 1.42-4.79) compared with the highest quintile after adjusting for traditional cardiovascular disease risk factors. Similar inverse associations for total dietary fiber were also shown for vegetable fiber and fruit fiber. Lower magnesium, lower total dietary fiber intake, or lower intake of both was associated with higher risk of diabetes in the Taiwanese population. Clinical trials are required to confirm the protective effects of the adequate intake of fiber, magnesium, and/or their combination.

Restricting dietary magnesium accelerates ectopic connective tissue mineralization in a mouse model of pseudoxanthoma elasticum (Abcc6−/−)

Ectopic mineralization, linked to a number of diseases, is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in humans. Pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE) is a heritable multisystem disorder characterized by calcium phosphate deposition in various tissues. The mineral content of diet has been suggested to modify the disease severity in PXE. The aim of this study is to explore the role of diet with reduced magnesium in modifying tissue mineralization in a mouse model of PXE. Abcc6(-/-) mice were placed on either standard rodent diet (control) or an experimental diet low in magnesium at weaning (4weeks) and examined for mineralization in the skin and internal organs at the ages of 1.5, 2 or 6months by computerized morphometric analysis of histopathological sections and by chemical assay of calcium and phosphate. Abcc6(-/-) mice on experimental diet demonstrated an accelerated, early-onset mineralization of connective tissues, as compared to control mice. Wild-type or heterozygous mice on experimental diet did not show evidence of mineralization up to 6months of age. All mice on experimental diet showed decreased urinary calcium, increased urinary phosphate and elevated parathyroid serum levels. However, no difference in bone density at 6months of age was noted. Our findings indicate that the mineral content, particularly magnesium, can modify the extent and the onset of mineralization in Abcc6(-/-) mice and suggest that dietary magnesium levels may contribute to the phenotypic variability of PXE. The control of mineralization by dietary magnesium may have broader implications in general population in the context of vascular mineralization.

Oral and physiological paleohealth in cold adapted peoples: Northeast Asia, Hokkaido

This paper examines variables useful in reconstructing oral (caries, antemortem tooth loss, alveolar defects) and physiological (cribra orbitalia, linear enamel hypoplasia) well-being in two bioarchaeological assemblages from Hokkaido, Japan: Okhotsk (n = 37 individuals) and Jomon (n = 60). Findings are compared and contrasted with each other, with published series from Honshu Japan, and samples from climatically near-equivalent Alaska. It was found that more meaningful comparisons of Hokkaido paleohealth could be made with Alaskan material, rather than the more southerly Jomon. Results were ambiguous with respect to physiological well-being. Low levels of LEH in the cold-adapted samples suggest operating in arctic and subarctic environments with marine-based subsistence regimes is not physiologically expensive. However, the relatively high levels of cribra orbitalia in Hokkaido, relative to Alaska, suggest the picture is not straightforward: the reasons for elevated cribra orbitalia in Hokkaido are unclear. The subarctic and arctic samples formed three broadly similar groupings in terms of oral health profiles: (1) Aleuts and Eskimo; (2) Ipiutak and Tigara; (3) Hokkaido Jomon, Okhotsk, and Kodiak Island. Differences between these groupings could be explained with a combination of sample demographics and subsistence orientations. The extremely high frequency of caries in one sample, caribou hunting Ipiutak, may have been influenced by factors such as low levels of dietary magnesium and potentially cariogenic foodstuffs, such as preparations of caribou stomach contents. It was concluded that oral health profiles are potentially sensitive to differences in subsistence strategies among cold-adapted hunter-gatherers, although they lack predictive value.

Interaction of Dietary Selenium and Magnesium Level on Digestive Function in Lambs Fed High-concentrate Diets

Hernández-Calva, L.M., Guerrero-Legarreta, M.I., Pérez-Chabela, M.L., López-Arellano, R. and Ramírez- Bribiesca, J.E. 2007. Interaction of dietary selenium and magnesium level on digestive function in lambs fed high concentrate diets. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 31: 41–46. A metabolism trial involving 4 Suffolk lambs (30.8 kg) cannulated in the rumen and proximal duodenum were conducted to evaluate the interaction of dietary Sel 0.10 vs 0.30 μ-g) and Mg level (0.18 vs 0.32%) on digestive function. Passage of feed N to the small intestine was greater (P<0.1) with 0.32% dietary Mg, and there was an interaction (P<0.05) between Mg and Se supplementation on feed N flow to duodenum and rumen digestion. There was an interaction between dietary Mg and Se level on passage of Mg and Se to the small intestine (P<0.05), ruminal solubility Mg concentration, molar proportion of acetate and acetate: propionate molar ratios. 0.3 μg Se increased (P<0.05) molar concentrations of butyrate. It is concluded that requirement levels of Se and Mg for feedlot lambs is substantially higher than that recommended by NRC.

Optimal Dietary Habits for the Prevention of Stroke

Diet may influence stroke risk via several mechanisms, but the optimal dietary habits for stroke prevention are not well established. We reviewed English-language MEDLINE publications from January 1979 through November 2004 for experimental, observational, and clinical studies of dietary factors (minerals, fats, cholesterol, fish, animal protein, fiber, whole grains, carbohydrate quality, fruits and vegetables, antioxidants, B vitamins, dietary patterns) and risk of stroke or hypertension, the principal modifiable stroke risk factor. A total of 121 publications were selected based on relevance and quality of design and methods. Diets low in sodium and high in potassium lower blood pressure which will likely reduce stroke risk. Consumption of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, folate, and fatty fish are each likely to reduce stroke risk. A prudent or traditional Mediterranean dietary pattern, which incorporates these individual dietary components as well as intake of legumes and olive oil, may also prevent stroke. Evidence is limited or inconsistent regarding optimal levels of dietary magnesium, calcium, antioxidants, total fat, other fat subtypes, cholesterol, carbohydrate quality, or animal protein for stroke prevention. A diet low in sodium, high in potassium, and rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, cereal fiber, and fatty fish will likely reduce the incidence of stroke. Further research is needed regarding the possible effects of other major dietary factors on stroke risk.

Dietary Magnesium and C-reactive Protein Levels

Objective: Current dietary guidelines recommend adequate intake of magnesium (310–420mg daily) in order to maintain health and lower the risk of cardiovascular disease. Recent evidence from animal and clinical studies suggests that magnesium may be associated with inflammatory processes. The objective of this study was to determine whether dietary magnesium consumption is associated with C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of inflammation, in a nationally representative sample.Methods: Analysis of adult (≥17 years) participants in a cross-sectional nationally representative survey (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999–2000 [NHANES]) who were not taking magnesium or magnesium-containing supplements. The primary outcome measure was high sensitivity CRP (elevated ≥3.0mg/L).Results: Among US adults, 68% consumed less than the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of magnesium, and 19% consumed less than 50% of the RDA. After controlling for demographic and cardiovascular risk factors, adults who consumed <RDA of magnesium were 1.48–1.75 times more likely to have elevated CRP than adults who consumed ≥RDA (Odds Ratio [OR] for intake <50% RDA = 1.75, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 1.08–2.87). Adults who were over age 40 with a BMI >25 and who consumed <50% RDA for magnesium were 2.24 times more likely to have elevated CRP (95% CI 1.13–4.46) than adults ≥RDA.Conclusions: Most Americans consume magnesium at levels below the RDA. Individuals with intakes below the RDA are more likely to have elevated CRP, which may contribute to cardiovascular disease risk.