Magnesium and Pediatric Obesity
Thursday, July 5, 2012
The most recent
study regarding this subject compared the serum magnesium levels of overweight
children to the serum magnesium levels in normal weight children. Since
it is being increasingly recognized that the foundations for obesity and
metabolic syndrome are laid down in childhood this study was designed to test
the hypothesis that the association of lower serum magnesium with obesity and
metabolic syndrome develops in childhood.
The study “compared fasting levels of serum magnesium, insulin, glucose,
total and HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides and dietary magnesium intake” between
the overweight children and the normal weight children. The data gathered was somewhat
surprising. Overall, the serum magnesium
levels were significantly lower in the overweight group compared to the normal
weight group which was somewhat expected based on serum magnesium measurements
in adults. The dietary intake of
magnesium, though, was significantly higher in the overweight group. The authors of the study controlled for the
difference in caloric intake and even after the adjustment, the overweight
children consumed more magnesium per calorie than the normal weight children. Surprisingly, the overweight children consumed
more magnesium than the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) but still had low serum
levels of magnesium.
The correlation
between serum magnesium and several components of metabolic syndrome were also
explored in this study. The researchers
discovered an inverse correlation between serum magnesium and serum insulin,
body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, systolic blood pressure and
diastolic blood pressure. In other
words, the lower the serum magnesium, the higher the serum insulin, BMI, blood
pressure and waist circumference. This
study does not give a clear answer to the question “which comes first, low
serum magnesium levels or endocrine pathology?” but it does provide some
insight.
The researchers
concluded that overweight children must have either a decreased absorption or
an increased excretion of magnesium.
This study did not measure the amount of magnesium excreted by the
children but an increase in urinary magnesium excretion has been found in
adults with type II diabetes mellitus, hypertension and obesity. The study suggests that whether overweight
children are excreting their magnesium more rapidly than their normal weight peers
or not absorbing the magnesium, overweight children most likely need more
magnesium on a daily basis. This study
also suggests that overweight adults might need to supplement with extra
magnesium and/or eat more magnesium-rich foods to raise their serum magnesium levels
as well. Hopefully future research will
discover the cause of the lower serum magnesium levels in overweight
individuals as well as the mechanism behind the correlation between low
magnesium levels and endocrine disorders.
It would also be fascinating to study the physiologic effects of
magnesium repletion in an overweight population.
If you wish to
increase your magnesium intake, foods such as wheat bran, almonds, cashews, leafy
green vegetables, oatmeal, peanuts, baked potatoes with skin (when potatoes are
boiled the minerals leach into the water), black-eyed peas, pinto beans, lentils,
bananas, raisins and halibut are good sources of magnesium. Magnesium can also be efficiently absorbed
from whole food supplements.
Reference: Jose, Bipin, Vandana Jain, et al. "Serum Magnesium in Overweight Children." Indian Pediatrics. 49.2 (2012): 109-12.
Laura Firetag ND Student Bastyr University
Disclaimer: All data and information provided on this blog is for informational purposes only. Innate Response
Formulas makes no representations as to accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any information on this blog and will not be liable for the content. All information is provided on an as-is basis.
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5 Comments :
It is important to reiterate that as you report it "The correlation between serum magnesium" and being overweight is just an association not cause and effect. To show cause and effect we would need to have a group that has had just magnesium added to the diet compared to a control.
Also at best calorie accounting is an extremely imprecise science and two foods one whole and the other a flour from the same food have the same calories but one puts on extra weight and the other does not.
It is likely that magnesium is associated with healthier whole plant based foods which in turn will have lower weight gaining potential, not to mention the biochemical benefits for metabolism. The eating of least processed food is consistently associated including cause and effect with better weight management.
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The reason behind obesity is excretion of huge amount of magnesium. So proper dose of magnesium is needed on daily basis, otherwise it may causes magnesium deficiency. It is necessary to check the way in which magnesium get excreted.
Also at best calorie accounting is an extremely imprecise science and two foods one whole and the other a flour from the same food have the same calories but one puts on extra weight and the other does not.
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It is important to state in which as you document the idea "The connection involving serum magnesium" as well as carrying excess fat is just a link not really cause as well as consequence.
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