Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Research published on March 1, 2016 in Nutrition Journal found a lower risk of coronary artery calcification among men and women with higher levels of serum magnesium.

"Increased carotid intima-media thickness and coronary artery calcification (CAC) are both markers of subclinical atherosclerosis, and are also predictors of cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality independently of traditional CVD risk factors," note authors Rosalinda Posadas-Sánchez and colleagues at Mexico City's Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez in their introduction.

The study involved 1,276 participants in the Genetics of Atherosclerotic Disease study, which included Mexican men and women between the ages of 30 and 75 years. Subjects included in the current investigation were limited to those without cardiovascular disease or family history of premature coronary heart disease. Blood sample analysis provided data concerning serum magnesium and other values, and computed tomography examination assessed coronary artery calcium.

Thirteen percent of the women and 41.5% of the male participants had coronary artery calcium scores greater than zero. Among subjects whose serum magnesium levels were among the top 25% of participants, the adjusted risk of having a CAC score greater than zero was 42% lower than those whose magnesium levels were among the lowest 25%. Additionally, the risk of high blood pressure was 48% lower and the risk of type 2 diabetes was 69% lower for those in the highest magnesium group. Each 0.17 milligram per deciliter increment in serum magnesium was found to be associated with a 16% lower risk of the presence of coronary artery calcification.

In their discussion regarding potential protective mechanisms for magnesium, the authors observe that "Dietary magnesium restriction in animal models resulted in reduced plasma and erythrocyte magnesium levels, which was accompanied by endothelial dysfunction and systemic inflammation, well known factors involved in the atherogenic process. Interestingly, these abnormalities were reverted by magnesium supplementation."

"Low serum magnesium was independently associated to higher prevalence not only of hypertension and diabetes mellitus 2, but also to coronary artery calcification, which is a marker of atherosclerosis and a predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality," they conclude.

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Highlight

Life Extension Magazine® April 2016 Issue Now Online

On the cover

How to delay brain aging by 11 years, by William Faloon

Reports

How PQQ protects the brain, by Cheryl Hopkins

Bridging the fiber gap, by Leslie Stanton

Unexpected neurological benefits from algae, by Chancellor Faloon

Better glucose for a better life, by Paul McGlothin and Meredith Averill

Newly discovered benefits of blueberries, by Chancellor Faloon

Enhance eyelashes naturally, by Robert Goldfaden and Gary Goldfaden, MD

Departments

In the News

Ask the Medical Editor:  A multi-targeted approach to reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease, by Hernando Latorre, MD, MSC

Fortify Your Life:  Your Guide to Vitamins, Minerals, and More, by Tieraona Low Dog, MD; Book review by Kyle Roderick

Wellness profile:  A time-travel party with David Kekich, by Kyle Roderick

Journal abstracts:  PQQ, fiber, astaxanthin and blueberry

Health Concern

Atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease

Not every person who suffers from atherosclerosis presents with the risk factors commonly associated with the condition, such as elevated cholesterol, but every single person with atherosclerosis has endothelial dysfunction. Aging humans are faced with an onslaught of atherogenic risk factors that, over time, contribute to endothelial dysfunction and the development of atherosclerosis.

Vitamin K is steadily gaining attention for its ability to reduce vascular calcification and help prevent vascular disease (Jie KSG et al 1996). Evidence for the ability of vitamin K to prevent calcification can also be found in an animal study in which researchers administered the anticoagulant warfarin to rats. Warfarin is known to deplete vitamin K. At the end of the study, all the animals had extensive calcification, suggesting they had lost the protective effect of vitamin K (Howe AM 2000).

A large study of more than 4,800 subjects followed for 7-10 years in the Netherlands demonstrated that people in the highest one-third of vitamin K2 intake had a 57% reduction in risk of dying from vascular disease, compared to those with the lowest intake. Furthermore, their risk of having severe aortic calcification plummeted by 52%—a clear demonstration of the vitamin's protective effects (Geleijnse, 2004).

Another study by the same group showed that higher vitamin K2 intake was associated with a 20% decreased risk of coronary artery calcification (Beulens, 2009).

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