Associations of dietary magnesium intake with mortality from cardiovascular disease: The JACC study

Association of Intake of Whole Grains with Health Outcomes in the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort Study

Key Points

Intake of whole grains was not associated with CKD mineral and bone disorder biomarkers. Intake of whole grains in relation to refined grains was associated with lower risk of cardiovascular disease, kidney failure, and mortality. The restriction of whole grains among people with CKD may be unwarranted.

Background

Patients with CKD are encouraged to choose refined grains instead of whole grains as part of the low-phosphorus diet for managing CKD-mineral and bone disorders (CKD-MBD). However, there is no direct evidence indicating that limiting whole grains has a beneficial impact on CKD outcomes.

Methods

This study analyzed Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort data in two ways, namely cross-sectional examination of CKD-MBD biomarkers and prospective examination of health outcomes. A total of 4067 (cross-sectional) and 4331 (prospective) participants were included. The primary exposure was reported intake of whole grains (analyzed as servings/d, servings/1,000 kcal, and refined grain servings/whole grain servings). CKD-MBD biomarkers included serum phosphorus, fibroblast growth factor-23, parathyroid hormone, calcitriol, and calcium. Outcomes included cardiovascular events, kidney failure, and all-cause mortality.

Results

In adjusted models, reported intake of whole grains was associated with higher phosphorus intake and serum phosphorus when assessed crudely (serving/d), but not when analyzed in relation to energy. Higher intake of refined grain relative to whole grains was associated (all models) with higher risk of kidney failure (model 4: 1.01; 95% confidence interval, 1.00 to 1.02; P = 0.01, all-cause mortality (model 4: 1.01; 95% confidence interval, 1.00 to 1.01; P = 0.01), and cardiovascular disease except for the fully adjusted model. Higher dietary density was associated with lower mortality in models adjusted for demographic and clinical factors including kidney function, but not in the fully adjusted model that further adjusted for dietary factors.

Conclusions

Intake of whole grains was not associated with CKD-MBD biomarkers. Intake of whole grains in relation to refined grains was associated with lower risk of cardiovascular disease, kidney failure, and mortality. The results of this study put into question the long-standing practice of restricting whole grains in patients with CKD.

Associations between nine dietary minerals intake and all-cause mortality in individuals with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease

Background

Varied intake of dietary minerals critically affects cardiovascular health. This study examines the associations of nine dietary minerals intake with all-cause mortality in atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVDs).

Methods

This study analyzed 4,125 individuals with ASCVD from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, employing Kaplan-Meier survival analyses, weighted Cox models, and restricted cubic splines to assess linear and nonlinear relationships between dietary minerals intake and all-cause mortality. Associations across different body mass index (BMI) categories were also evaluated separately.

Results

Over 6.25 years of median follow-up, 1,582 deaths were documented. Adjusted for potential covariates, results show a negative linear correlation between dietary magnesium intake and all-cause mortality (p for trend <0.001). Compared to the lowest quartile, all-cause mortality risk in the highest quartile was found to be 0.63 (95% CI 0.49-0.81). The associations between intake of the other eight dietary minerals and all-cause mortality were not robust. BMI significantly influenced the links between dietary minerals intake and all-cause mortality (p for interaction <0.05). Across BMI categories, significant negative associations were found between intake of magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and copper and all-cause mortality in underweight or normal weight groups. In overweight individuals, intake of calcium, iron, magnesium, and potassium was negatively linked to all-cause mortality. For obese groups, sodium intake negatively affected all-cause mortality (p for trend <0.001).

Conclusion

Unlike other dietary minerals, increased magnesium intake significantly reduced all-cause mortality risk in ASCVD. BMI influenced the associations between dietary minerals intake and all-cause mortality.

The interaction between estimated glomerular filtration rate and dietary magnesium intake and its effect on stroke prevalence: a cross-sectional study spanning 2003-2018

Background

Despite the known associations of dietary magnesium intake and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) with cardiovascular diseases, their combined effects on stroke risk remain unclear. Therefore, this study aims to explore the associations of dietary magnesium intake and eGFR with stroke risk.

Methods

The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data of 37,637 adult participants (≥18 years) from 2003 to 2018 was analyzed. Dietary magnesium intake was categorized as low (≤ 254 mg/day) and normal (> 254 mg/day) based on experimental data. Multiple logistic regression analyses and interaction tests were conducted to assess the associations of dietary magnesium intake and eGFR with stroke risk, with a focus on the interaction between different chronic kidney disease (CKD) stages based on eGFR levels and dietary magnesium intake. Additional analyses included multiplicative interaction analysis, restricted cubic spline analysis, and subgroup evaluations by age, sex, and ethnicity.

Results

Dietary magnesium intake and eGFR were inversely correlated with the risk of stroke. Participants with low dietary magnesium intake had a higher stroke risk than those with normal magnesium intake (odds ratio [OR] 1.09, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03-1.42). Likewise, low eGFR was associated with an elevated stroke risk compared with normal eGFR (OR 1.56, 95% CI: 1.15-2.13). Furthermore, the two factors showed a multiplicative interaction effect on stroke risk (OR 1.05, 95% CI: 1.01-1.09). We observed a significant interaction between stage G3 CKD and low dietary magnesium intake (OR 1.05, 95% CI: 1.01-1.09), suggesting a potential association with stroke risk. However, similar associations were not observed for stages G4 and G5, possibly due to the smaller number of participants with G4 and G5 CKD. The restricted cubic spline analysis revealed a non-linear relationship between dietary magnesium intake, eGFR, and stroke risk. The interaction between magnesium deficiency and low eGFR persisted in participants aged >60 years, as well as in females, non-Hispanic Black people, and people of other races.

Conclusion

Dietary magnesium intake and eGFR correlate negatively with stroke prevalence. Moreover, there was an interaction between dietary magnesium intake and stroke prevalence across different CKD stages. Further large-scale prospective studies are needed to analyze the potential relationship between dietary magnesium intake, eGFR, and stroke.

Mineral Intake and Cardiovascular Disease, Cancer, and All-Cause Mortality: Findings from the Golestan Cohort Study

Associations between mineral intake and mortality in non-Western countries have not been studied adequately. This study evaluated these associations in the Golestan Cohort Study, featuring a Middle Eastern population. The mineral intake was estimated from the baseline food frequency questionnaire, adjusted by using the nutrient density method, and divided into quintiles. We used Cox proportional hazards models to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the mortality. We analyzed 41,863 subjects with a mean age of 51.46 ± 8.73 years at the baseline. During 578,694 person-years of follow-up (median: 14.1 Years), 7217 deaths were recorded. Dietary calcium intake was inversely associated with the all-cause mortality (HRQ5 vs. Q1 = 0.91, 95%CI = 0.85-0.99). We observed significant associations between calcium (HRQ5 vs. Q1 = 0.82, 95% CI = 0.73-0.93), copper (HRQ5 vs. Q1 = 1.11, 95% CI = 0.99-1.26), and selenium intake (HRQ5 vs. Q1 = 1.14, 95% CI = 1.01-1.29) and CVD mortality. Dietary phosphorus (HRQ5 vs. Q1 = 0.81, 95%CI = 0.69-0.96) and copper intake (HRQ5 vs. Q1 = 0.84, 95%CI = 0.71-0.99) were inversely associated with cancer mortality. In this study within a Middle Eastern population, a higher dietary intake of calcium exhibited an inverse association with all-cause mortality. Furthermore, nuanced associations were observed in the cause-specific mortality, suggesting potential avenues for dietary interventions and emphasizing the importance of considering dietary factors in public health strategies.

Associations between Serum Mineral Nutrients, Gut Microbiota, and Risk of Neurological, Psychiatric, and Metabolic Diseases: A Comprehensive Mendelian Randomization Study

Recent observational studies have reported associations between serum mineral nutrient levels, gut microbiota composition, and neurological, psychiatric, and metabolic diseases. However, the causal effects of mineral nutrients on gut microbiota and their causal associations with diseases remain unclear and require further investigation. This study aimed to identify the associations between serum mineral nutrients, gut microbiota, and risk of neurological, psychiatric, and metabolic diseases using Mendelian randomization (MR). We conducted an MR study using the large-scale genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary statistics of 5 serum mineral nutrients, 196 gut microbes at the phylum, order, family, and genus levels, and a variety of common neurological, psychiatric, and metabolic diseases. Initially, the independent causal associations of mineral nutrients and gut microbiota with diseases were examined by MR. Subsequently, the causal effect of mineral nutrients on gut microbiota was estimated to investigate whether specific gut microbes mediated the association between mineral nutrients and diseases. Finally, we performed sensitivity analyses to assess the robustness of the study results. After correcting for multiple testing, we identified a total of 33 causal relationships among mineral nutrients, gut microbiota, and diseases. Specifically, we found 4 causal relationships between 3 mineral nutrition traits and 3 disease traits, 15 causal associations between 14 gut microbiota traits and 6 disease traits, and 14 causal associations involving 4 mineral nutrition traits and 15 gut microbiota traits. Meanwhile, 118 suggestive associations were identified. The current study reveals multiple causal associations between serum mineral nutrients, gut microbiota, risk of neurological, psychiatric, and metabolic diseases, and potentially provides valuable insights for subsequent nutritional therapies.

Association of Dietary Magnesium Intake with the Risk of Stroke among Adults

The relationship between dietary magnesium intake and the risk of stroke is controversial. This study aimed to examine the association of dietary magnesium intake with the risk of stroke among American adults.The relationship between dietary magnesium intake and the risk of stroke was analyzed using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2007-2018 data with 29,653 adults. The amount of magnesium from the diet was assessed by two 24-hour dietary recalls. Stroke outcomes were defined using the results of the self-reported questionnaires. The association between dietary magnesium intake and the risk of stroke was evaluated using logistic regression models and restricted cubic spline.In our study, an inverse association between dietary magnesium intake and the risk of stroke was found. For the highest versus lowest quartile of dietary magnesium intake, the multivariate-adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of stroke was 0.56 (0.36-0.86). The magnesium intake of women was negatively associated with stroke risk, but this negative association was not found in men. Then, the inverse association was statistically significant among the 40-59 year-old group. The results from the dose-response analysis show a linear relationship between dietary magnesium intake and the risk of stroke.Dietary magnesium intake was inversely associated with the risk of stroke, especially in women. Therefore, our study emphasizes the importance of appropriately increasing dietary magnesium intake.

Prognostic value of day-of-event serum calcium and magnesium for predicting 1-year prognosis after intracerebral hemorrhage

AIM

To investigate whether serum calcium and magnesium on the day of symptom onset contribute to prognosis at 1 year after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH).

METHODS

We prospectively enrolled patients admitted < 24 h after symptom onset of primary ICH to West China Hospital between January 2012 and October 2014. Blood samples were collected at admission to determine the concentration of serum calcium and magnesium. We analyzed associations of the serum concentration of calcium and magnesium with unfavorable outcome (defined as modified Rankin scale, mRS ≥ 3) at 1 year.

RESULTS

We included 874 patients (mean age 59.1 ± 13.5 years, 67.6% males), of whom 470 patients had mRS ≥ 3 and 284 patients died at 1 year. Compared to patients with the highest tertile level of calcium concentration (≥ 2.29 mmol/L), patients in the lowest tertile (≤ 2.15 mmol/L) had higher odds of unfavorable outcome (odds ratio, OR 1.61, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04-2.50, P = 0.034). The Kaplan-Meier survival curve revealed a significant difference of cumulative survival rate across calcium tertiles (log-rank P value = 0.038). There was no significant association between serum concentration of magnesium and functional outcome at 1 year.

CONCLUSION

A reduced serum concentration of calcium on the day-of-event was associated with unfavorable outcome at 1 year after ICH. Future studies are needed to illustrate the pathophysiological mechanism of calcium and whether calcium could be a treatment target for improving outcomes after ICH.

Association between a Calcium-to-Magnesium Ratio and Osteoporosis among Puerto Rican Adults

BACKGROUND

The ratio of calcium-to-magnesium intake (Ca:Mg) may be important for bone due to their competitive absorption. The Ca:Mg ratio has been related to health outcomes, but few studies have related it to bone.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this analysis was to examine associations between the Ca:Mg intake with bone mineral density (BMD) and osteoporosis among Puerto Rican adults.

METHODS

Adults, aged 47-79 y, from the Boston Puerto Rican Osteoporosis Study, with complete BMD and dietary data (n = 955) were included. BMD was assessed with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and diet by a food frequency questionnaire. Calcium and magnesium intakes from food were energy adjusted, and the Ca:Mg was calculated. Adjusted linear and logistic regression models were utilized for testing associations between Ca:Mg and bone outcomes.

RESULTS

Calcium intake was greater in the highest compared with lowest tertile, whereas magnesium intake was similar across tertiles. Mean BMD at hip sites was higher in the middle, compared with the lowest, tertile. Higher odds of osteoporosis were observed for the highest and lowest tertiles, compared with the middle tertile, after adjustment (T3 compared with T2 OR: 2.79; 95% CI: 1.47, 5.3; T1 compared with T2 OR: 2.01; 95% CI: 1.03, 3.92). Repeated analyses without supplement users (n = 432) led to stronger differences and ORs, but lost significance for some comparisons.

CONCLUSIONS

Dietary calcium and magnesium are important for bone, perhaps not independently. The Ca:Mg intake ratio appeared most protective within a range of 2.2-3.2, suggesting that a balance of these nutrients may be considered in recommendations for osteoporosis..

Bio-inspired nanoparticles mediated from plant extract biomolecules and their therapeutic application in cardiovascular diseases: A review

Nanoparticles (NPs) have gained recognition for diagnosis, drug delivery, and therapy in fatal diseases. This review focuses on the benefits of green synthesis of bioinspired NPs using various plant extract (containing various biomolecules such as sugars, proteins, and other phytochemical compounds) and their therapeutic application in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Multiple factors including inflammation, mitochondrial and cardiomyocyte mutations, endothelial cell apoptosis, and administration of non-cardiac drugs, can trigger the cause of cardiac disorders. Furthermore, the interruption of reactive oxygen species (ROS) synchronization from mitochondria causes oxidative stress in the cardiac system, leading to chronic diseases such as atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction. NPs can decrease the interaction with biomolecules and prevent the incitement of ROS. Understanding this mechanism can pave the way for using green synthesized elemental NPs to reduce the risk of CVD. This review delivers information on the different methods, classifications, mechanisms and benefits of using NPs, as well as the formation and progression of CVDs and their effects on the body.

Lower serum magnesium is a predictor of left ventricular hypertrophy in patients on dialysis

PURPOSE

Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) represents one of the main risk factors for cardiovascular mortality in dialysis patients. Low serum magnesium Mg is related with increased mortality in general and dialysis population. Aim of our study was to evaluate the association of Mg with LVH and cardiac geometry in dialysis patients.

METHODS

Hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients from nine nephrology departments were included. Echocardiographic LVH was defined by LV mass index > 95 g/m² in women and > 115 g/m² in men. Four LV geometric patterns were defined: normal, concentric remodeling, eccentric LVH and concentric LVH. Demographic and laboratory data were collected.

RESULTS

133 patients (68 HD, 65 PD) with a median age of 63 years (IQR 52-74) were studied. Mg correlated positively with creatinine, HDL and negatively with CRP levels and BMI. There were no significant differences in Mg between the modality groups. 80 patients presented LVH (43 HD and 37 PD patients). Patients with LVH were older (median age 68 vs 55 years, p < 0.001), with higher BMI (median 26.9 vs 24.7 kg/m², p = 0.009), had a history of PVD or CAD (55% vs 30.2%, p = 0.003), had higher pulse pressure (median 60 vs 50, p = 0.017), MIS score (median 5 vs 4, p = 0.011), lower albumin (median 3.5 vs 3.8 g/dl, p = 0.011) and Mg levels (median 2.1 vs 2.4 mg/dl, p < 0.001). In univariate analysis age, CVD comorbidities, pulse pressure, CRP, BMI, albumin, Mg, MIS and use of b-blockers or calcium blockers were LVH predictors. In multivariate analysis, Mg was an independent predictor of LVH, adjusted for age, MIS and b-blockers. Considering LV geometry, lower Mg levels were mainly correlated with concentric LVH.

CONCLUSION

Low serum magnesium levels seem to be an independent factor for LVH in hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients.

Is the magnesium phosphate ratio a predictor of arrhythmia in patients undergoing hemodialysis?

Aim: Koroner arter hastalığı, kalp yetmezliği, aritmi veya hiperkalemi nedenli ani ölüm son dönem böbrek yetmezliği hastalarında kardiyovasküler nedenlerin büyük çoğunluğunu oluşturmaktadır. Kanda bulunan Magnezyum, endotel fonksiyonu, damar tonusunun düzenlenmesi ve miyokardiyal uyarılabilirlik gibi kardiyovasküler fonksiyonları düzenleyen birçok süreçte önemli rol oynamaktadır. bu çalışmadaki amacımız; hemodiyaliz alan son dönem böbrek yetmezliği hastalarında Mg / P oranının aritmiyi öngörücülüğünü saptamaktır. Material and method: 18 yaşından büyük, kardiyoloji polikliniğine başvuran, kronik böbrek yetmezliği nedeniyle hemodiyaliz almakta olan ardışık 103 hasta çalışmaya dahil edildi. Ocak 2018 – Ekim 2022 tarihleri arasında 24 saatlik ritm holter ECG ile monitörize hastalar alındı. Hastalar 24 saatlik ritm holter EKG’ de aritmi saptananlar (grup 1: 51 hasta) ve saptanmayanlar (grup 2: 52 hasta) olarak 2 gruba ayrılarak analiz edildi. Result: Çalışmadaki hastaların yaş ortalamaları grup 1’ in grup 2’ ye kıyasla anlamlı daha yüksekti (66.96±10,27 ve 62,21±10,50, p=0.02, sırasıyla). Hastaların 24 saatlik ritm Holter EKG’ leri incelendiğinde en sık izlenen aritmi %18.4 (n=19)’ lük oran ile ventriküler ekstrasistol iken ikinci sırada %9.7 (n=10)’ lik oranı ile paroksismal AF’ ydi. ROC curve analizi (Resim-1) göstermiştir ki LVEF

Association of dietary magnesium intake and glycohemoglobin with mortality risk in diabetic patients

BACKGROUND

Dietary magnesium intake inversely correlated to risk of death in general population. However, it is relatively unknown whether the beneficial effect remains significant in individuals with diabetes. Our study purpose is to evaluate the association of dietary magnesium intake with mortality risk in diabetic population.

METHODS

The study population is recruited from 2003-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, totaling 2,045 adults with diabetes being included. Participants were divided based on glycohemoglobin (HbA1c < 7% and ≥ 7%) and daily dietary magnesium intake (≤ and > 250mg/day) ascertained by 24-hour dietary recall interviews.

RESULTS

The average age of the study population was 52.9±10.1 years, with 49.1% being male. During a median follow-up of 77.0 months (interquartile range: 45.0-107.0 months), a total of 223 participants died (1.5 per 1000 person-months). Our results showed that individuals with lower dietary magnesium intake (≤250mg/day) had higher risk of all-cause (HR: 1.56, 95% CI: 1.13-2.16) and other-cause (non-cardiovascular and non-cancer) mortality (HR: 1.68, 95% CI: 1.09-2.60), while cardiovascular and cancer-related mortality were similar compared with individuals with magnesium intake > 250mg/day. We also showed that the risk of all-cause (HR: 1.86, 95% CI: 1.33-2.60) and other-cause mortality (HR: 2.03, 95% CI: 1.29-3.19) were higher in individuals with poorly controlled diabetes (HbA1c ≥7.0%) compared with HbA1c <7.0%; however, the association attenuated in the subgroup of higher magnesium intake (>250mg/day). When combining HbA1c and dietary magnesium intake, we showed that individuals with HbA1c ≥ 7% and dietary magnesium intake ≤ 250 mg/day had higher all-cause and other-cause (non-cardiovascular and non-cancer) mortality risk compared with those with HbA1c < 7% and/or dietary magnesium intake > 250 mg/day.

CONCLUSION

Higher magnesium intake may help reduce mortality risk in individuals with diabetes and attenuate mortality risk of poor diabetic control.

A pathway phenotype linking metabolic, immune, oxidative, and opioid pathways with comorbid depression, atherosclerosis, and unstable angina

BACKGROUND

There is strong comorbidity between atherosclerosis (ATS) and depression which is attributed to increased atherogenicity, insulin resistance (IR), and immune and oxidative stress.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To examine the role of the above pathways and mu-opioid receptor (MOR), β-endorphin levels, zinc, copper, vitamin D3, calcium, and magnesium in depression due to ATS/unstable angina (UA).

METHODS

Biomarkers were assayed in 58 controls and 120 ATS patients divided into those with moderate and severe depression according to the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) scores >19 and >29, respectively.

RESULTS

Neural network and logistic regression models showed that severe depression due to ATS/UA was best predicted by interleukin-6 (IL-6), UA, MOR, zinc, β-endorphin, calcium and magnesium, and that moderate depression was associated with IL-6, zinc, MOR, β-endorphin, UA, atherogenicity, IR, and calcium. Neural networks yielded a significant discrimination of severe and moderate depression with an area under the receiver operating curves of 0.831 and 0.931, respectively. Using Partial Least Squares path analysis, we found that 66.2% of the variance in a latent vector extracted from ATS/UA clinical features, and the BDI-II scores, atherogenicity, and IR could be explained by the regression on IL-6, IL-10, zinc, copper, calcium, MOR, and age. The BDI-II scores increased from controls to ATS to UA class III to UA class IV.

CONCLUSIONS

Immune activation, the endogenous opioid system, antioxidants, trace elements, and macrominerals modulate a common core shared by increased depressive symptoms, ATS, UA, atherogenicity, and IR.

Low serum magnesium is associated with poor functional outcome in acute ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack patients

AIM

The association between magnesium and outcomes after stroke is uncertain. We aimed to investigate the association of serum magnesium with all-cause mortality and poor functional outcome.

METHODS

We included patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) or transient ischemic attack (TIA) from the China National Stroke Registry III. We used Cox proportional hazards model for all-cause mortality and logistic regression model for poor functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale [mRS] 2-6/3-6) to examine the relationships.

RESULTS

Among the 6483 patients, the median (interquartile range) magnesium was 0.87 (0.80-0.93) mmol/L. Patients in the first quartile had a higher risk of mRS score 3-6/2-6 at 3 months (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 1.30; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02, 1.64; adjusted OR: 1.29; 95% CI: 1.04-1.59) compared with those in the fourth quartile. Similar results were found for mRS score 26 at 1 year. The age- and sex-adjusted hazard ratio (HR) with 95% CI in first quartile magnesium was 1.40 (1.02-1.93) for all-cause mortality within 1 year, but became insignificant (HR: 1.03; 95% CI: 0.71-1.50) after adjusting for potential variables.

CONCLUSIONS

Low serum magnesium was associated with a high risk of poor functional outcome in patients with AIS or TIA.

The Levels of Bioelements in Postmenopausal Women with Metabolic Syndrome

(1) Metabolic syndrome is a set of factors that considerably increase the risk of developing atherosclerosis, type 2 diabetes, and their cardiovascular complications. Studies show that menopause and the levels of elements may be significantly associated with increased risk of MetS. The present study evaluated the relationship between element levels (Ca, P, Na, K, Fe, Mg, Cu, Zn, Sr) and the incidence of MetS and concomitant metabolic disorders in peri-menopausal women. (2) The study involved 170 perimenopausal women. The methods used were: survey, anthropometric measurement (WC, height, BMI, WHtR), blood pressure measurement, and biochemical analysis of venous blood (lipid profile, glucose, insulin, HbA1C). (3) The study demonstrated statistically significantly higher WC, WHtR, SBP, and DBP values in women with pre-Mets than in those with Mets and the control group. Significantly higher FPG, TG, LDL, HbA1C, insulin, TG/HDL ratio, and TC/HDL ratio were recorded in the MetS group compared to the rest of respondents. In addition, post hoc analysis revealed statistically significant differences in mean K concentrations between pre-MetS and MetS women. (4) Low blood K levels in perimenopausal women are associated with an increased risk of MetS. Significantly higher Cu levels were observed in overweight women. The concentration of Cu negatively correlates with the values of TC, LDL, and SBP.

Association between Serum Magnesium Levels and Mortality in a Community-Based Population: The Yamagata (Takahata) Study

The element magnesium (Mg) is involved in various metabolic reactions within the human body, and its deficiency is considered a risk factor for several diseases. In this study, we investigated the relationship between serum Mg levels and mortality in a community-based population. We prospectively assessed the association between serum Mg levels at enrollment and all-cause mortality in 1,314 participants who underwent a community health examination. The mean serum Mg level was 2.4 (±0.2) mg/dL. Patients with serum Mg levels ≤2.3 mg/dL constituted the low Mg group, while those with serum Mg ≥2.4 mg/dL constituted the high Mg group. Ninety-three (7.1%) patients died during the 10-y follow-up period. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that all-cause mortality was significantly higher in the low Mg group (log-rank p<0.05). Cox proportional hazards analysis revealed a significant association in the unadjusted model (hazard ratio [HR] 1.72, 95% confidence intervals [CI] 1.14-2.58, p<0.01) and in the fully adjusted model (HR 1.73, 95% CI 1.09-2.76, p<0.05). This association was particularly strong in males (HR 2.08, 95% CI 1.19-3.63, p<0.05). Low serum Mg levels were significantly associated with the risk of all-cause mortality among males in a community-based Japanese population.

Concentrations of Mg, Ca, Fe, Cu, Zn, P and anthropometric and biochemical parameters in adults with chronic heart failure

Background

The study investigated the relationship between the concentrations of Mg, Ca, Fe, Cu, Zn, P and anthropometric and biochemical parameters in the blood serum of patients with heart failure (HF) and the potential influence on the development and progression of HF.

Material & methods

The study included 214 patients (155 men and 59 women), aged 40–87 years, presenting symptoms or signs typical of HF (according to the NYHA functional classification). Serum concentrations were determined for Mg, Ca, Fe, Cu, Zn, P, C-reactive protein (CRP), creatinine, urea, triglyceride levels (TG), total cholesterol (CH), high density protein (HDL), low density protein (LDL). The levels of macro-and microminerals were analysed using inductively coupled serum optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES).

Results

Our study confirmed the role of known risk factors in the development of heart failure, including: overweight, diabetes, hypertension, high triglycerides (TG), high total cholesterol (CH), high levels of low density protein (LDL) and reduced levels of high density protein (HDL), high CRP, high creatinine. Moreover, deficient serum concentrations of Mg (47% of the studied men and 54% of the women) and Cu (in 44% of men and more than 30% of women) were observed, as well as subnormal serum Fe (2% of women) and Zn (1% of men). Elevated serum Ca was found in 50% of men and 49% of women. In 44% of the studied men and 52% of the studied women, P levels in serum were also above-average. The study revealed a significant positive correlation between serum levels of Ca and Mg, and also Ca and Cu in women. In men, serum Cu was positively correlated with Mg and Ca concentrations. In patients from group 1 (NYHA I–II), Mg content was positively correlated with Ca and Cu. In this patient group, Ca was also positively associated with Cu content in serum. In group 2 (NYHA III-IV), serum Mg concentration was significantly positively correlated with that of Cu and Ca.

Conclusions

Changes in the serum concentrations of macro-and microminerals may significantly affect the severity of HF in Polish patients.

Associations between the serum magnesium and all-cause or cardiovascular mortality in chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease patients: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Some studies have found that hypomagnesemia is associated with vascular calcification, atherosclerosis, and cardiovascular disease, which may lead to increased mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) who need to maintain hemodialysis (HD). However, the conclusion of these studies remain controversial.

METHODS

Relevant literature was retrieved from the database of Cochrane library, PubMed, EMBASE, and CNKI until December 2020, without any language restrictions. The data was analyzed using the Stata 12.0 software.

RESULTS

A total of 31 studies were included, involving 205436 participants. The results showed that after multivariable adjusted, hypomagnesemia was significant associated with the risk of all-cause mortality in patients with CKD and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) (hazard ratios [HR] 1.955; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.511-2.528; P = .000; hypomagnesemia vs normal magnesium or hypermagnesemia). In contrast, in patients with CKD and ESRD, hypermagnesemia was negatively correlated with all-cause mortality (HR 0.873; 95% CI 0.793-0.960; P = .005) (per unit increase). Moreover, in the adjusted model, it was observed that hypermagnesemia was significantly associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular death (HR 0.598; 95% CI 0.094-1.102, P = .020). In addition, subgroup analysis found that hypomagnesemia was closely related to the increase of all-cause mortality in HD patients (HR 1.799; 95% CI 1.375-2.354; P = .000) (hypomagnesemia vs normal magnesium or hypermagnesemia).

CONCLUSION

Our results show that hypomagnesemia is significantly associated with cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in maintenance HD patients. Further studies should be conducted to evaluate the benefits of magnesium correction in maintenance dialysis patients with hypomagnesemia.

Increased Provision of Bioavailable Mg through Vegetables Could Significantly Reduce the Growing Health and Economic Burden Caused by Mg Malnutrition

Magnesium (Mg) is an essential mineral nutrient for human health and its deficiency associated with many diseases, including stroke, heart failure, and type 2 diabetes. Vegetables are an important source of dietary Mg for humans. In this study, we quantified vegetable Mg content by a global meat analysis, analyzed human health, and economic impact caused by Mg deficiency. Results revealed that vegetable Mg content showed a large variation with an average value of 19.3 mg 100 g⁻¹ FW. Variation in per capita vegetable-Mg supply in different continents is largely ascribed to continental difference in the amount and the type of vegetables produced. The health and economic loss attributed to Mg deficiency are estimated to be 1.91 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and 15.8 billion dollars (0.14% of GDP), respectively. A scenario analysis indicated that the increasing vegetable production (increased by 8.9% and 20.7% relative to 2017 in 2030 and 2050) and vegetable Mg content (increased by 22% through biofortification) could significantly reduce DALYs (1.24 million years) and economic burden (0.09% of GDP). This study could guide a major re-balance of production practices, species cultivated, and Mg biofortification to provide sufficient vegetable Mg for better human Mg nutrition.

Is Supplementation with Micronutrients Still Necessary during Pregnancy? A Review

INTRODUCTION

Proper nutrition during pregnancy is important to prevent nutritional imbalances that interfere with pregnancy. Micronutrients play critical roles in embryogenesis, fetal growth, and maternal health, as energy, protein, vitamin, and mineral needs can increase during pregnancy. Increased needs can be met by increasing the intake of dietary micronutrients. Severe micronutrient deficiency or excess during pregnancy can have negative effects on fetal growth (intrauterine growth retardation, low birth weight, or congenital malformations) and pregnancy development (pre-eclampsia or gestational diabetes). We investigate whether it is necessary to continue micronutrient supplementation during pregnancy to improve women's health in this stage and whether this supplementation could prevent and control pathologies associated with pregnancy.

AIM

The present review aims to summarize evidence on the effects of nutritional deficiencies on maternal and newborn morbidity.

METHODS

This aim is addressed by critically reviewing results from published studies on supplementation with different nutrients during pregnancy. For this, major scientific databases, scientific texts, and official webpages have been consulted. PubMed searches using the terms "pregnancy" OR "maternal-fetal health" AND "vitamins" OR "minerals" OR "supplementation" AND "requirement" OR "deficiency nutrients" were performed.

RESULTS

There are accepted interventions during pregnancy, such as folic acid supplementation to prevent congenital neural tube defects, potassium iodide supplementation to correct neurodevelopment, and oral iron supplementation during the second half of pregnancy to reduce the risk of maternal anemia and iron deficiency. A number of micronutrients have also been associated with pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus, and nausea and vomiting in pregnancy. In general, experimental studies are necessary to demonstrate the benefits of supplementation with different micronutrients and to adjust the recommended daily doses and the recommended periconceptional nutrition for mothers.

CONCLUSIONS

Presently, there is evidence of the benefits of micronutrient supplementation in perinatal results, but indiscriminate use is discouraged due to the fact that the side effects of excessive doses are not known. Evidence supports the idea that micronutrient deficiencies negatively affect maternal health and the outcome of pregnancy. No single micronutrient is responsible for the adverse effects; thus, supplementing or correcting one deficiency will not be very effective while other deficiencies exist.

The Effect of Magnesium Supplementation on Endothelial Function: A Randomised Cross-Over Pilot Study

Evidence supports an association between low magnesium (Mg) intake and coronary heart disease and between Mg intake and endothelial function. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of one week of Mg supplementation on endothelial function, assessed by flow mediated dilatation (FMD). Nineteen healthy men and women completed this cross-over pilot study in which participants were randomised to take an over-the-counter magnesium supplement for one week or to follow their usual diet. Weight, FMD and blood pressure (BP) were taken on completion of each intervention and 24 h urine collections and blood samples were taken to assess compliance. Baseline serum Mg was within normal range for all participants. Urinary Mg and urinary magnesium-creatinine ratio (Mg/Cr) significantly increased between interventions, (p = 0.03, p = 0.005, respectively). No significant differences in FMD or BP were found between the interventions. A significant negative correlation was seen between age and FMD (r = -0.496, p = 0.031). When adjusted for age, saturated fat was negatively associated with FMD (p = 0.045). One week of Mg supplementation did not improve FMD in a healthy population.

Magnesium supplementation reduces inflammation in rats with induced chronic kidney disease

BACKGROUND

Inflammation is a common feature in chronic kidney disease (CKD) that appears specifically associated with cardiovascular derangements in CKD patients. Observational studies have revealed a link between low Mg levels and inflammation. In this study, we hypothesize that Mg might have a modulatory effect on the inflammation induced under the uraemic milieu.

METHODS

In vivo studies were performed in a 5/6 nephrectomized rat model of CKD. Furthermore, a possible direct effect of Mg was addressed through in vitro studies with vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs).

RESULTS

Uraemic rats fed a normal (0.1%) Mg diet showed a systemic inflammatory response evidenced by the elevation in plasma of the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6, and GPx activity, a marker of oxidative stress. Importantly, an increased expression of these cytokines in the aortic tissue was also observed. In contrast, a dietary Mg supplementation (0.6%) greatly prevented the oxidative stress and the pro-inflammatory response. In vitro, in VSMCs cultured in a pro-inflammatory high phosphate medium, incubation with Mg 1.6 mM inhibited the increase in the production of ROS, the rise in the expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-8 and the activation of NF-κB signalling that was observed in cells incubated with a normal (0.8 mM) Mg.

CONCLUSION

Mg supplementation reduced inflammation associated with CKD, exerting a direct effect on vascular cells. These findings support a possible beneficial effect of Mg supplementation along the clinical management of CKD patients.

The Emerging Role of Nutraceuticals in Cardiovascular Calcification: Evidence from Preclinical and Clinical Studies

Cardiovascular calcification is the ectopic deposition of calcium-phosphate crystals within the arterial wall and the aortic valve leaflets. This pathological process leads to increased vascular stiffness, reduced arterial elasticity, and aortic valve stenosis, increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Although cardiovascular calcification is an increasing health care burden, to date no medical therapies have been approved for treating or preventing it. Considering the current lack of therapeutic strategies and the increasing prevalence of cardiovascular calcification, the investigation of some nutraceuticals to prevent this pathological condition has become prevalent in recent years. Recent preclinical and clinical studies evaluated the potential anti-calcific role of nutraceuticals (including magnesium, zinc, iron, vitamin K, and phytate) in the progression of vascular calcification, providing evidence for their dietary supplementation, especially in high-risk populations. The present review summarizes the current knowledge and latest advances for nutraceuticals with the most relevant preclinical and clinical data, including magnesium, zinc, iron, vitamin K, and phytate. Their supplementation might be recommended as a cost-effective strategy to avoid nutritional deficiency and to prevent or treat cardiovascular calcification. However, the optimal dose of nutraceuticals has not been identified and large interventional trials are warranted to support their protective effects on cardiovascular disease.

Nutraceutical, Dietary, and Lifestyle Options for Prevention and Treatment of Ventricular Hypertrophy and Heart Failure

Although well documented drug therapies are available for the management of ventricular hypertrophy (VH) and heart failure (HF), most patients nonetheless experience a downhill course, and further therapeutic measures are needed. Nutraceutical, dietary, and lifestyle measures may have particular merit in this regard, as they are currently available, relatively safe and inexpensive, and can lend themselves to primary prevention as well. A consideration of the pathogenic mechanisms underlying the VH/HF syndrome suggests that measures which control oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, that support effective nitric oxide and hydrogen sulfide bioactivity, that prevent a reduction in cardiomyocyte pH, and that boost the production of protective hormones, such as fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), while suppressing fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) and marinobufagenin, may have utility for preventing and controlling this syndrome. Agents considered in this essay include phycocyanobilin, N-acetylcysteine, lipoic acid, ferulic acid, zinc, selenium, ubiquinol, astaxanthin, melatonin, tauroursodeoxycholic acid, berberine, citrulline, high-dose folate, cocoa flavanols, hawthorn extract, dietary nitrate, high-dose biotin, soy isoflavones, taurine, carnitine, magnesium orotate, EPA-rich fish oil, glycine, and copper. The potential advantages of whole-food plant-based diets, moderation in salt intake, avoidance of phosphate additives, and regular exercise training and sauna sessions are also discussed. There should be considerable scope for the development of functional foods and supplements which make it more convenient and affordable for patients to consume complementary combinations of the agents discussed here. Research Strategy: Key word searching of PubMed was employed to locate the research papers whose findings are cited in this essay.

Total, Dietary, and Supplemental Magnesium Intakes and Risk of All-Cause, Cardiovascular, and Cancer Mortality: A Systematic Review and Dose-Response Meta-Analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies

A meta-analysis of prospective studies was conducted to examine the association of total, supplemental, and dietary magnesium intakes with risk of all-cause, cancer, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality and identify the dose-response relations involved in these association. We performed a systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and ISI Web of Knowledge up to April 2020. Prospective cohort studies that reported risk estimates for the association between total, supplemental, and dietary magnesium intakes and risk of mortality were included. Random effects models were used. Nineteen publication with a total of 1,168,756 participants were included in the current meta-analysis. In total, 52,378 deaths from all causes, 23,478 from CVD, and 11,408 from cancer were identified during the follow-up period of 3.5 to 32 years. Dietary magnesium intake was associated with a lower risk of all-cause [pooled effect size (ES): 0.87; 95% CI: 0.79, 0.97; P = 0.009; I2 = 70.7%; P < 0.001] and cancer mortality (pooled ES: 0.80; 95% CI: 0.67, 0.97; P = 0.023; I2 = 55.7%; P = 0.027), but not with CVD mortality (pooled ES: 0.93; 95% CI: 0.82, 1.07; P = 0.313; I2 = 72.3%; P < 0.001). For supplemental and total magnesium intakes, we did not find any significant associations with risks of all-cause, CVD, and cancer mortality. However, linear dose-response meta-analysis indicated that each additional intake of 100 mg/d of dietary magnesium was associated with a 6% and 5% reduced risk of all-cause and cancer mortality, respectively. In conclusion, higher intake of dietary magnesium was associated with a reduced risk of all-cause and cancer mortality, but not CVD mortality. Supplemental and total magnesium intakes were not associated with the risk of all-cause, CVD, and cancer mortality. These findings indicate that consumption of magnesium from dietary sources may be beneficial in reducing all-cause and cancer mortality and thus have practical importance for public health.

Trace element, immune and opioid biomarkers of unstable angina, increased atherogenicity and insulin resistance: Results of machine learning

BACKGROUND

Aberrations in endothelial cells, immune and oxidative pathways are associated with atherosclerosis (ATS) and unstable angina (UA). The role of trace elements, minerals, and the endogenous opioid system (EOS) in UA are less well established.

METHODS

We measured lipid, insulin resistance (IR), and immune, trace element (copper and zinc), mineral (magnesium, calcium), EOS (β-endorphin and mu-opioid receptor (MOR)) and antioxidant (vitamin D3) biomarkers in patients with ATS (n = 60) and UA (n = 60) and healthy controls (n = 58).

RESULTS

ATS patients showed increased atherogenic and IR indices, IL-6, IL-10, β-endorphin, copper and magnesium, and lower zinc than healthy controls. Logistic regression showed that UA was significantly discriminated from ATS without UA with an accuracy of 85.5 % using calcium, IL-10, β-endorphin, MOR, triglycerides, IR (all positively), and copper and vitamin D3 (inversely). Neural networks showed that UA was discriminated from ATS without UA with an area under the ROC curve of 0.942 using MOR, β-endorphin, calcium, insulin resistance, vitamin D3 and copper as input variables. We found that 50.0 % of the variance in IR was explained by the regression on copper, IL-10, IL-6 (all positively), and zinc (inversely), while 32.9 % of the variance in the atherogenic index of plasma was explained by copper, IL-10 (both positively), and magnesium (inversely).

CONCLUSION

UA is not only mediated by insulin resistance, atherogenicity, and immune disorders, but also by aberrations in the endogenous opioid system and trace elements as well as lowered antioxidant levels. Copper appears to play a key role in IR and atherogenicity.

The ECG Characteristics of Patients With Isolated Hypomagnesemia

Background

Electrocardiographic (ECG) characteristics of patients with isolated hypomagnesemia are not well defined. We aimed to investigate these ECG characteristics in order to define clearly the features of isolated hypomagnesemia.

Hypothesis

Lower serum magnesium could affect ECG parameters after excluding potential confounders.

Methods

This retrospective study was of patients with low serum magnesium <0.65 mmol/L compared with the same patients after restoration to normal serum magnesium. Patients with hypokalemia, hypocalcemia and other electrolyte disturbances were excluded. ECG parameters manually determined and analyzed were P wave dispersion, PR interval, QRS duration, ST-T changes, T wave amplitude, T peak-to-end interval (Tpe), corrected Tpe (Tpec), QT, corrected QT (QTc), QT peak corrected (QTpc) and Tpe dispersion, Tpe/QT ratio.

Results

Two-hundred-and-fourteen patients with isolated hypomagnesemia were identified with 50 of them (56.9 ± 13.6 years; 25 males) being eligible for final analysis from 270,997 patients presenting April 2011–October 2017. In the period of isolated hypomagnesemia, P wave duration was found prolonged (p ≤ 0.02); as was QTc (439 ± 27 vs. 433 ± 22, p = 0.01). Tpec (122 ± 24vs. 111 ± 22, p = 0.000) and Tpe/QT ratio (0.29 ± 0.05 vs. 0.27 ± 0.05, p = 0.000) were increased. QTpc decreased during hypomagnesemia (334 ± 28 vs. 342 ± 21, p = 0.02). However, no significant differences were found in PR interval, QRS duration (85 ± 12 ms vs. 86 ± 12 ms, p = 0.122) and ST-T segments between the patients and their own controls.

Conclusions

In patients with isolated hypomagnesemia, P wave duration, QTc, Tpec, and Tpe/QT ratio suggesting atrial depolarization and ventricular repolarization dispersion were significantly increased compared with normal magnesium levels in the same patients after restoration to normal levels.

Magnesium in Obesity, Metabolic Syndrome, and Type 2 Diabetes

Magnesium (Mg²⁺) deficiency is probably the most underestimated electrolyte imbalance in Western countries. It is frequent in obese patients, subjects with type-2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome, both in adulthood and in childhood. This narrative review aims to offer insights into the pathophysiological mechanisms linking Mg²⁺ deficiency with obesity and the risk of developing metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. Literature highlights critical issues about the treatment of Mg²⁺ deficiency, such as the lack of a clear definition of Mg²⁺ nutritional status, the use of different Mg²⁺ salts and dosage and the different duration of the Mg²⁺ supplementation. Despite the lack of agreement, an appropriate dietary pattern, including the right intake of Mg²⁺, improves metabolic syndrome by reducing blood pressure, hyperglycemia, and hypertriglyceridemia. This occurs through the modulation of gene expression and proteomic profile as well as through a positive influence on the composition of the intestinal microbiota and the metabolism of vitamins B1 and D.

Magnesium, Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Cardiovascular Disease

Hypomagnesemia is commonly observed in heart failure, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases. Low serum magnesium (Mg) is a predictor for cardiovascular and all-cause mortality and treating Mg deficiency may help prevent cardiovascular disease. In this review, we discuss the possible mechanisms by which Mg deficiency plays detrimental roles in cardiovascular diseases and review the results of clinical trials of Mg supplementation for heart failure, arrhythmias and other cardiovascular diseases.

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

BACKGROUND

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).

METHODS

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.

RESULTS

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).

CONCLUSIONS

Increasing dietary magnesium or serum magnesium level is linearly and inversely associated with the risk of total CVD and CHD events.

Environmental heavy metals and cardiovascular diseases: Status and future direction

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and environmental degradation are leading global health problems of our time. Recent studies have linked exposure to heavy metals to the risks of CVD and diabetes, particularly in populations from low- and middle-income countries, where concomitant rapid development occurs. In this review, we 1) assessed the totality, quantity, and consistency of the available epidemiological studies, linking heavy metal exposures to the risk of CVD (including stroke and coronary heart disease); 2) discussed the potential biological mechanisms underlying some tantalizing observations in humans; and 3) identified gaps in our knowledge base that must be investigated in future work. An accumulating body of evidence from both experimental and observational studies implicates exposure to heavy metals, in a dose-response manner, in the increased risk of CVD. The limitations of most existing studies include insufficient statistical power, lack of comprehensive assessment of exposure, and cross-sectional design. Given the widespread exposure to heavy metals, an urgent need has emerged to investigate these putative associations of environmental exposures, either independently or jointly, with incident CVD outcomes prospectively in well-characterized cohorts of diverse populations, and to determine potential strategies to prevent and control the impacts of heavy metal exposure on the cardiometabolic health outcomes of individuals and populations.

Association of magnesium intake with type 2 diabetes and total stroke: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

The detailed associations between type 2 diabetes (T2D) and total stroke and magnesium intake as well as the dose-response trend should be updated in a timely manner.

DESIGN

Systematic review and meta-analyses.

DATA SOURCES

PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science and ClinicalTrials.gov were rigorously searched from inception to 15 March 2019.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Prospective cohort studies investigating these two diseases were included.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Relative risk (RR) and 95% CI in random effects models as well as absolute risk (AR) were pooled to calculate the risk of T2D and stroke. Methodological quality was assessed by the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.

RESULTS

Forty-one studies involving 53 cohorts were included. The magnitude of the risk was significantly reduced by 22% for T2D (RR 0.78 (95% CI 0.75 to 0.81); p<0.001; AR reduction 0.120%), 11% for total stroke (RR 0.89 (95% CI 0.83 to 0.94); p<0.001; AR reduction 0.281%) and 12% for ischaemic stroke (RR 0.88 (95% CI 0.81 to 0.95); p=0.001; AR reduction 0.246%) when comparing the highest magnesium intake to the lowest. The inverse association still existed when studies on T2D were adjusted for cereal fibre (RR 0.79; p<0.001) and those on total stroke were adjusted for calcium (RR 0.89; p=0.040). Subgroup analyses suggested that the risk for total and ischaemic stroke was significantly decreased in females, participants with ≥25 mg/m² body mass index and those with ≥12-year follow-up; the reduced risk in Asians was not as notable as that in North American and European populations.

CONCLUSIONS

Magnesium intake has significantly inverse associations with T2D and total stroke in a dose-dependent manner. Feasible magnesium-rich dietary patterns may be highly beneficial for specific populations and could be highlighted in the primary T2D and total stroke prevention strategies disseminated to the public.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42018092690.

Hypomagnesemia and Short-Term Mortality in Elderly Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients

Background

The relationship between magnesium and mortality in hemodialysis patients has been evaluated in several prospective studies, but few have assessed the risk of all-cause mortality in elderly hemodialysis patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between magnesium levels and the risk of cardiovascular and overall mortality in elderly maintenance hemodialysis patients.

Methods

This was a retrospective study, and patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis were screened for eligibility at a single dialysis center between July and December 2016. Patients were divided into two groups based on their magnesium levels: a low magnesium level group and a high magnesium level group. Associations between magnesium level and risk of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality were analyzed with a Cox proportional hazards regression model.

Results

In total, 413 patients were included with a median follow-up period of 12 months. We found that compared to patients with high magnesium levels, those with low magnesium levels had significantly lower levels of hemoglobin, urea, creatinine, uric acid, phosphate, potassium, chloride, albumin, and spKt/V (p < 0.05 for each parameter). There was a strong correlation between the baseline mean serum magnesium concentration 1 year prior and the concentration 1 year later (r² = 0.519, p < 0.001). After adjustment for confounding factors, multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis showed hypomagnesemia to be an independent predictor of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in chronic hemodialysis patients. Furthermore, subgroup analysis was performed, revealing that serum magnesium levels were still strongly associated with all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality in patients older than 60 years, with HR values of 0.020 (95% CI 0.001-0.415) and 0.010 (95% CI 0.000-0.491), respectively. In addition, there were still significant associations between the serum magnesium level and all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality in elderly dialysis patients at the 6-month follow-up visit.

Conclusion

Our study indicates that lower serum magnesium levels are strongly associated with cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in maintenance hemodialysis patients, especially in the short term and in those who are elderly. Factors affecting serum magnesium concentrations in hemodialysis patients should be investigated, and correcting hypomagnesemia may benefit elderly hemodialysis patients.

Assessing Causality in Associations of Serum Calcium and Magnesium Levels With Heart Failure: A Two-Sample Mendelian Randomization Study

Evidence from observational studies suggests that increased exposure to calcium may increase the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke whereas magnesium might have a protective effect on disease risk. However, studies of the associations of these minerals with heart failure are scarce and limited by potential biases introduced by confounding and reverse causality. We applied a two-sample Mendelian randomization design using summary estimates to assess whether serum calcium and magnesium concentrations are causally associated with heart failure. Summary statistics data were collected for seven and six single-nucleotide polymorphisms associated with calcium and magnesium, respectively, from the hitherto largest genome-wide association studies on these minerals. Corresponding summary statistics for genetic associations with heart failure were available from publicly available data based on the UK Biobank study and based on participants of European ancestry. The findings showed that neither serum calcium nor magnesium concentrations were associated with heart failure. In the standard inverse-variance weighted analysis, the odds ratios of heart failure per genetically predicted one standard deviation increase in mineral concentrations were 0.89 (95% confidence interval 0.67–1.17; p = 0.41) for serum calcium and 0.89 (95% confidence interval 0.72–1.10; p = 0.28) for serum magnesium. Results were robust in sensitivity analyses, including the weighted median and Mendelian randomization Egger analyses. In conclusion, these findings do not support previous findings suggesting a link between serum calcium and magnesium and heart failure, but this study was underpowered to detect weak associations.

Anabolic effects of vitamin D and magnesium in aging bone

Decreased bone mass and an increased risk of bone fractures become more common with age. This condition is often associated with osteoporosis and is caused by an imbalance of bone resorption and new bone formation. Lifestyle factors that affect the risk of osteoporosis include alcohol, diet, hormones, physical activity, and smoking. Calcium and vitamin D are particularly important for the age-related loss of bone density and skeletal muscle mass, but other minerals, such as magnesium, also have an important role. Here, we summarize how optimal magnesium and vitamin D balance improve health outcomes in the elderly, the role of magnesium and vitamin D on bone formation, and the implications of widespread deficiency of these factors in the United States and worldwide, particularly in the elderly population.

Association of serum magnesium with all-cause mortality in patients with and without chronic kidney disease in the Dallas Heart Study

Background

Low serum magnesium (SMg) has been linked to increased mortality and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the general population. We examined whether this association is similar in participants with versus without prevalent chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the multiethnic Dallas Heart Study (DHS) cohort.

Methods

SMg was analyzed as a continuous variable and divided into tertiles. Study outcomes were all-cause death, cardiovascular (CV) death or event, and CVD surrogate markers, evaluated using multivariable Cox regression models adjusted for demographics, comorbidity, anthropometric and biochemical parameters including albumin, phosphorus and parathyroid hormone, and diuretic use. Median follow-up was 12.3 years (11.9-12.8, 25th percentile-75th percentile).

Results

Among 3551 participants, 306 (8.6%) had prevalent CKD. Mean SMg was 2.08 ± 0.19 mg/dL (0.85 ± 0.08 mM, mean ± SD) in the CKD and 2.07 ± 0.18 mg/dL (0.85 ± 0.07 mM) in the non-CKD subgroups. During the follow-up period, 329 all-cause deaths and 306 CV deaths or events occurred. In a fully adjusted model, every 0.2 mg/dL decrease in SMg was associated with ∼20-40% increased hazard for all-cause death in both CKD and non-CKD subgroups. In CKD participants, the lowest SMg tertile was also independently associated with all-cause death (adjusted hazard ratio 2.31; 95% confidence interval 1.23-4.36 versus 1.15; 0.55-2.41; for low versus high tertile, respectively).

Conclusions

Low SMg levels (1.4-1.9 mg/dL; 0.58-0.78 mM) were independently associated with all-cause death in patients with prevalent CKD in the DHS cohort. Randomized clinical trials are important to determine whether Mg supplementation affects survival in CKD patients.

Physical activity, dietary calcium to magnesium intake and mortality in the National Health and Examination Survey 1999-2006 cohort

Calcium and magnesium affect muscle mass and function. Magnesium and calcium are also important for optimal vitamin D status. Vitamin D status modifies the associations between physical activity and risk of incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) and CVD mortality. However, no study examined whether levels of magnesium and calcium and the ratio of dietary calcium to magnesium (Ca:Mg) intake modify the relationship between physical activity and mortality. We included 20,295 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey participants (1999-2006) aged >20 years with complete dietary, physical activity and mortality data (2,663 deaths). We assessed physical activity based on public health guidelines and sex-specific tertiles of MET-minutes/week. We used Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for potential confounding factors and stratified by the intakes of magnesium, calcium, Ca:Mg ratio. We found higher physical activity was significantly associated with reduced risk of total mortality and cause-specific mortality, regardless of Ca:Mg ratio, magnesium or calcium intake. In contrast, both moderate and high physical activity were significantly associated with substantially reduced risks of mortality due to cancer when magnesium intake was above the RDA level. We also found higher physical activity was significantly associated with a reduced risk of mortality due to cancer only when Ca:Mg ratios were between 1.7 and 2.6, although the interaction was not significant. Overall, dietary magnesium and, potentially, the Ca:Mg ratio modify the relationship between physical activity and cause-specific mortality. Further study is important to understand the modifying effects of the balance between calcium and magnesium intake on physical activity for chronic disease prevention.

The Effect of Magnesium Intake on Stroke Incidence: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis With Trial Sequential Analysis

Background: The effect of magnesium on stroke has been consistently discussed less, and the results of previous studies have been contradictory. We reviewed the latest literature and quantified robust evidence of the association between magnesium intake and stroke risk. Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, the Web of Science and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched through inception to January 15, 2019 for prospective cohort studies on magnesium intake and the incidence of stroke. Results: Fifteen studies with low bias involving 18 cohorts were entered into this study. The summary relative risk (RR) was significantly reduced by 11% for total stroke (RR: 0.89 [95% CI, 0.83-0.94]; P < 0.001) and by 12% for ischemic stroke (RR: 0.88 [95% CI, 0.81-0.95]; P = 0.001), comparing the highest magnesium intake category to the lowest. After adjusting for calcium intake, the inverse association still existed for total stroke (RR: 0.89 ([95% CI, 0.80-0.99]; P = 0.040). There was an inverse but non-significant association for hemorrhagic stroke, subarachnoid hemorrhage and intracerebral hemorrhage. The quantitative associations for total and ischemic stroke were robust. Importantly, high-risk females who had a body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m² and who were subjected to a ≥12 y follow-up exhibited a greater decrease in RRs as a result of magnesium intake. For each 100 mg/day increase in magnesium, the risk for total stroke was reduced by 2% and the risk for ischemic stroke was reduced by 2%. Conclusions: Increasing magnesium intake may be a crucial component of stroke prevention that acts in a dose-dependent manner. However, the conclusion is limited by the observational nature of the studies examined, and further randomized controlled trials are still needed.

The role of magnesium in different inflammatory diseases

Magnesium deficiency (MgD) can cause inflammation in human body. The known mechanisms of inflammation caused by MgD include activation of phagocytic cells, opening of calcium channels, activation of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor, and activation of nuclear factor (NF)-κB. In addition, MgD causes systemic stress response through neuroendocrinological pathways. The inflammation caused by MgD can result in pro-atherogenic changes in the metabolism of lipoproteins, endothelial dysfunction, and high blood pressure. Studies suggest that magnesium may play an important role in the pathophysiology of some inflammatory diseases. Several clinical trials and laboratory studies have been done on the functional role of magnesium. In this study, we review some inflammatory diseases, in which the magnesium has a role in their pathophysiology. Among these diseases, diabetes, asthma, preeclampsia, atherosclerosis, heart damage, and rheumatoid arthritis have been highlighted.

Serum Magnesium is associated with Carotid Atherosclerosis in patients with high cardiovascular risk (CORDIOPREV Study)

This study aimed to ascertain whether there is an independent association between serum magnesium (Mg) and the Carotid Intima-Media Thickness (IMT-CC), a well-accepted atherosclerotic-biomarker surrogate of cardiovascular disease (CVD), in a population with high cardiovascular risk. Serum Mg and traditional atherosclerotic risk factors were recorded in 939 patients (mean age, 59.6 ± 0.3 years, 83.2% men) with coronary heart disease (CHD) enrolled in the CORDIOPREV trial. Serum Mg strongly associated with IMT-CC. Before adjusting for potential confounding factors, IMT-CC decreased by 0.111 ± 0.011 mm per mg/dl increase in serum Mg (p < 0.001). After adjustment, the effect of Mg did not appear mediated through factors related to glucose metabolism, the lipid profile or the mineral metabolism and renal function. Multivariate models showed the lower Mg levels (quartile 1) as a strong independent factor contributing to IMT-CC along with age, sex, SBP, HDL-C, and diuretic use. Logistic regression analysis confirmed the predictive ability of serum Mg to differentiate patients at higher atherosclerotic risk as defined by an IMT-CC ≥ 1.0 mm, yielding a OR for the lower quartile of 10.623 (95%CI 2.311–48.845; P = 0.002) and a ROC-derived cutoff of 1.61 mg/dl. Therefore, our findings outline low serum magnesium as a possible independent risk factor for carotid atherosclerosis.

Serum magnesium, mortality, and cardiovascular disease in chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Previous studies reported that magnesium deficiency was associated with vascular calcifications, atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease, which might play an independent pathogenic role in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. However, the results of these studies were somewhat underpowered and inconclusive.

METHODS

Literature was identified by searching PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL). We included studies that investigated the association between serum magnesium with mortality risk in CKD and ESRD patients. Unadjusted and adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were pooled.

RESULTS

Twenty studies involving 200,934 participants were included, and the results showed that there was a strong association between hypomagnesemia and the risk of all-cause mortality in patients with CKD and ESRD (HR 1.32; 95% CI 1.19-1.47; p < 0.00001) (hypomagnesemia vs. normal magnesium or hypermagnesemia) after multivariable adjusted. On the contrary, hypermagnesemia was inversely associated with all-cause mortality in patients with CKD and ESRD (HR 0.86; 95% CI 0.79-0.94; p = 0.001) (per unit increase). Moreover, a significant association between hypermagnesemia and decreased risk of cardiovascular mortality was observed (HR 0.71; 95% CI 053-0.97, p = 0.03) in the adjusted model. In addition, subgroup analysis found that hypomagnesemia was strongly associated with increased all-cause mortality in hemodialysis patients (HR 1.29; 95% CI 1.12-1.50; p = 0.0005) (hypomagnesemia vs. normal magnesium or hypermagnesemia).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicate that hypomagnesemia is significantly associated with cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in patients with CKD and ESRD. Further studies evaluating benefits of magnesium correction in CKD and dialysis patients with hypomagnesemia should be performed.

Low serum magnesium is associated with faster decline in kidney function: the Dallas Heart Study experience

Hypomagnesemia associates with inflammation and risk of diabetes and hypertension, which may contribute to kidney function decline. We hypothesized that low serum magnesium (SMg) levels independently associate with a significant decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). We analyzed SMg levels in 2056 participants from the Dallas Heart Study, a longitudinal, population-based, multiethnic, cohort study involving residents of Dallas County, Texas, USA. The primary study outcome was the change in eGFR using multivariable linear regression models adjusted for demographics, anthropometric and biochemical parameters, medications, C reactive protein levels, prevalent hypertension and diabetes. During a median follow-up of 7.0 years (25th, 75th percentile: 6.5, 7.6), the median decrease in eGFR was -0.71 (25th, 75th percentile: -2.43, +0.68) mL/min/1.73 m² per year in the entire cohort. In a fully adjusted model, the lowest SMg quintile (≤1.9 mg/dL or ≤0.8 mM) was associated with a -0.50 mL/min/1.73 m² per year drop in eGFR (95% CI -0.95 to -0.05; p=0.028) compared with the highest SMg quintile (≥2.3 mg/dL or ≥1.0 mM). Every 0.2 mg/dL (0.08 mM) decrease in SMg was associated with an eGFR decline of -0.23 mL/min/1.73 m² per year (95% CI -0.38 to -0.08; p=0.003), a decline that was more pronounced in participants with prevalent diabetes compared with patients without diabetes (-0.51 vs -0.18 mL/min/1.73 m² per year, respectively). In conclusion, low SMg was independently associated with eGFR decline. Further studies are needed to determine whether Mg repletion can ameliorate inflammation, lower blood pressure and serum glucose and ultimately prevent or retard kidney function decline.

Association between exposure to desalinated sea water and ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus and colorectal cancer; A population-based study in Israel

BACKGROUND

Drinking water (DW) is an important dietary source of magnesium. Recently, Israel has increased its use of desalinated seawater (DSW) as DW country-wide. Its negligible magnesium content, however, raises concern that consumption of DSW may be associated with hypomagnesemia and increase the risk of ischemic heart disease (IHD), diabetes mellitus (DM), and colorectal cancer (CRC).

OBJECTIVES

We tested whether there was a change in incidence of negative health outcomes (IHD, DM, and CRC) following the introduction of DSW supply in a population-based ecologic study in Israel.

METHODS

A historical prospective analysis was applied to members aged 25-76 during 2004-2013 of Clalit Health Services (Clalit), the largest healthcare provider in Israel, using its electronic medical record database. Multivariable analyses were adjusted for age, sex, socioeconomic status, smoking status, and body mass index.

RESULTS

An increased odds ratio was found for IHD (0.96, 95% CI 0.93-0.99 at baseline and 1.06, 95% CI 1.02-1.11 at the end of the follow-up period), but no time trend was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

We found that the risk for IHD increased during the study period. The risks for DM and CRC were unchanged. Long term studies are needed for assessing the risk for CRC due to the long latency. The higher risk for IHD has practical public health implications and raise the need to add magnesium to DSW.

Dietary patterns and components to prevent and treat heart failure: a comprehensive review of human studies

Growing evidence has emerged about the role of dietary patterns and components in heart failure (HF) incidence and severity. The objective here is to provide a comprehensive summary of the current evidence regarding dietary patterns/components and HF. A comprehensive search of online databases was conducted using multiple relevant keywords to identify relevant human studies. The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) and Mediterranean diets have consistently been associated with decreased HF incidence and severity. Regarding specific dietary components, fruit, vegetables, legumes and whole grains appear beneficial. Current evidence suggests that red/processed meats, eggs and refined carbohydrates are harmful, while fish, dairy products and poultry remain controversial. However, there is a notable lack of human intervention trials. The existing but limited observational and interventional evidence from human studies suggests that a plant-based dietary pattern high in antioxidants, micronutrients, nitrate and fibre but low in saturated/trans-fat and Na may decrease HF incidence/severity. Potential mechanisms include decreased oxidative stress, homocysteine and inflammation but higher antioxidant defence and NO bioavailability and gut microbiome modulation. Randomised, controlled trials are urgently required.

Regional Distribution of Longevity Population and Elements in Drinking Water in Jiangjin District, Chongqing City, China

In order to determine the spatial variation of longevity population and elements contained in the drinking water of longevity region in Jiangjin and investigate the relationship between the elements in drinking water and longevity, population censuses on township level and 98 drinking water samples from Jiangjin District, Chongqing City in West China were collected and analyzed. Population statistics on township level showed that the number of centenarians per 100,000 inhabitants (OC), centenarity index (CI), and number of centenarians per 10,000 over 65-year-old subjects (UC) present obvious geographic distribution properties, generally Central region > Northern region > Southern region (Kruskal-Wallis test, p < 0.05). Moderate hard water (150 mg/L < total hardness (TH) = 156.17 mg/L < 300 mg/L) was mainly found in drinking water from longevity township (OC > 7.5) in Jiangjin District, whereas soft water (75 mg/L < TH = 111.23 mg/L < 150 mg/L) was mostly in non-longevity township (OC < 7.5). The mean concentration of strontium (Sr) (0.73 mg/L) in drinking water from the longevity township was apparently higher than that of non-longevity township (0.44 mg/L) (Mann-Whitney U test, p = 0.019 < 0.05). The concentrations of Ba, Li, Mn, Ni, and Se in drinking water from longevity township were also higher than those of non-longevity township (Mann-Whitney U test, p < 0.05). The research indicates that exercising strict control over the concentrations of TH, Sr, Ba, Li, Mn, Ni, and Se in drinking water might be good for the health and prolong people's life.

Magnesium Supplementation and Blood Pressure in Pregnancy: A Double-Blind Randomized Multicenter Study

Objective

To investigate the effect of magnesium (Mg) supplementation in healthy pregnant women for prevention of blood pressure increase. Secondary outcomes were comparison of biomarkers for hypertensive disorders and labour and fetal outcomes between the groups.

Methods

Two hundred nulliparous healthy pregnant women were double-blind randomized to receive Mg daily or placebo.

Results

There were no differences in blood pressure increase. However, among the Mg-treated women, there was a significant negative correlation between increase in blood levels of magnesium and increase in systolic blood pressure (p = 0.042). Magnesium supplementation seems to be safe for both mother and infant.

Conclusion

Magnesium supplementation in healthy first-time pregnant women is not to be recommended for prevention of blood pressure increase. Supplementation in risk pregnancies needs to be further investigated. The study is listed on the ISRCTN registry with study ID 13890849.

Higher Dietary Magnesium Intake and Higher Magnesium Status Are Associated with Lower Prevalence of Coronary Heart Disease in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

In type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D), the handling of magnesium is disturbed. Magnesium deficiency may be associated with a higher risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). We investigated the associations between (1) dietary magnesium intake; (2) 24 h urinary magnesium excretion; and (3) plasma magnesium concentration with prevalent CHD in T2D patients. This cross-sectional analysis was performed on baseline data from the DIAbetes and LifEstyle Cohort Twente-1 (DIALECT-1, n = 450, age 63 ± 9 years, 57% men, and diabetes duration of 11 (7-18) years). Prevalence ratios (95% CI) of CHD by sex-specific quartiles of magnesium indicators, as well as by magnesium intake per dietary source, were determined using multivariable Cox proportional hazard models. CHD was present in 100 (22%) subjects. Adjusted CHD prevalence ratios for the highest compared to the lowest quartiles were 0.40 (0.20, 0.79) for magnesium intake, 0.63 (0.32, 1.26) for 24 h urinary magnesium excretion, and 0.62 (0.32, 1.20) for plasma magnesium concentration. For every 10 mg increase of magnesium intake from vegetables, the prevalence of CHD was, statistically non-significantly, lower (0.75 (0.52, 1.08)). In this T2D cohort, higher magnesium intake, higher 24 h urinary magnesium excretion, and higher plasma magnesium concentration are associated with a lower prevalence of CHD.

Dietary Magnesium and Cardiovascular Disease: A Review with Emphasis in Epidemiological Studies

Magnesium (Mg) is an essential dietary element for humans involved in key biological processes. A growing body of evidence from epidemiological studies, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and meta-analyses have indicated inverse associations between Mg intake and cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The present review aims to summarize recent scientific evidence on the topic, with a focus on data from epidemiological studies assessing the associations between Mg intake and major cardiovascular (CV) risk factors and CVD. We also aimed to review current literature on circulating Mg and CVD, as well as potential biological processes underlying these observations. We concluded that high Mg intake is associated with lower risk of major CV risk factors (mainly metabolic syndrome, diabetes and hypertension), stroke and total CVD. Higher levels of circulating Mg are associated with lower risk of CVD, mainly ischemic heart disease and coronary heart disease. Further, RCTs and prospective studies would help to clarify whether Mg intake and Mg circulating levels may also protect against other CVDs and CVD death.

Recent Science and Clinical Application of Nutrition to Coronary Heart Disease

One of the greatest threats to mortality in industrialized societies continues to be coronary heart disease (CHD). Moreover, the ability to decrease the incidence of CHD has reached a limit utilizing traditional diagnostic evaluations and prevention and treatment strategies for the top five cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, obesity, and smoking). It is well known that about 80% of CHD can be prevented with optimal nutrition, coupled with exercise, weight management, mild alcohol intake, and smoking cessation. Among all of these factors, optimal nutrition provides the basic foundation for prevention and treatment of CHD. Numerous prospective nutrition clinical trials have shown dramatic reductions in the incidence of CHD. As nutritional science and nutrigenomics research continues, our ability to adjust the best nutrition with an individualized approach is emerging. This article reviews the role of nutrition in the prevention and treatment of CHD and myocardial infarction (MI).