Magnesium Supplementation Reduces Inerleukin-6 and Blood Pressure in Metabolic Syndrome

Objective: Due to a metabolic syndrome cardiovascular morbidity and mortality is increased. Recent data show that a magnesium supplementation can decrease inflammation and atherogenic vessel damage via calcium magnesium antagonism and reducing elevated interleukin-6 levels, hereby improving metabolic parameters. The blood pressure lowering effect of magnesium has been described in several studies before, both in systolic and diastolic values. Design and method: In this context we conducted a double-blinded, controlled, prospective study on magnesium, blood pressure and interleukin-6 levels in 27 patients (13 male/14 female, age: 60.2+/-12.5 years) with a metabolic syndrome. The study was performed in accordance with the declaration of Helsinki and approved by the ethic committee of the University of Münster, Germany (2015-493-f-S9). Registration in clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03002545). All patients, with normal renal function, were supplemented with orally given 400 mg magnesium citrate daily. Interleukin-6 concentrations were measured before and after 6 and 12 weeks of treatment. 27 metabolic patients served as controls without an additional magnesium therapy (10 male/17 female, age: 64.6+/-13.2 years). Results: In the magnesium treated group interleukin-6 values decreased significantly from 4.94+/-3.30 to 4.53+/-6.89 after 6 weeks to 3.01+/-1.32 pg/mL after 12 weeks (means+/-s.d.)(p< 0.01). In the control group interleukin-6 was 3.73+/-4.36 before start of supplementation, 4.87+/-4.35 after 6 weeks, 4.41+/-3.15 pg/mL after 12 weeks (means+/-s.d.)(n.s.). In the magnesium treated group there was a significant decrease in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure values after 12 weeks (systolic 134.6+/-6.8 to 126.3+/-5.6 mmHg, diastolic: 84.1+/-3.9 to 79.4+/-1.6 mmHg)(means+/-s.d.)(p< 0.01). In the control group blood pressure values did not change and were similar to the supplemented group at beginning. Mann-Whitney-U-Test was used for statistics analysis. Conclusions: In metabolic syndrome magnesium supplementation significantly improved systolic and diastolic blood pressure values and interleukin-6 levels. Magnesium acts anti-inflammatory and anti-arteriosclerotic, hereby a benefit for metabolic patients at high risk for vascular damage inclusive stroke is given. A magnesium deficiency has to be corrected in every metabolic patient. A long-lasting magnesium supplementatio (12 weeks) has to be preferred. The daily amount of oral magnesium sujpplementation should be 300 to 500 mg.