Metabolic Syndrome could be prevented by Eating a Diet Rich with Magnesium

March 28th, 2006

A 15 year study found that people that ate the most magnesium in their diets had a 31 percent less of a chance for developing metabolic syndrome. 

Metabolic syndrome is a group of conditions that include high blood pressure, high triglycerides, and low levels of “good” HDL cholesterol.  The metabolic syndrome people usually have an excessive amount of weight around their waist.  They struggle with blood sugar levels and can often develop type 2 diabetes.  They are also at an increased risk for developing heart disease.

The study was first reported in the March 28^th, 2006 issue of Circulation medical journal.  It was a large scale study that included 4,600 people from the ages of 18 through 30 when the study first began in the 1980’s.  There were four group divisions based on the dietary consumption of magnesium.  After 15 years passed there were 188 people that developed the metabolic syndrome that had the least amount of magnesium.  The group that had the most magnesium consumption had only 117 develop the metabolic syndrome.

The researchers at this time can not recommend the dietary supplementation of magnesium for prevention of metabolic syndrome.  The researchers want to develop further studies to see if magnesium will be able to prevent the advanced stages of the metabolic syndrome from becoming diabetes and heart disease.  They suggest that randomized trials would be a good stepping stone in testing magnesium for the prevention of metabolic syndrome.

Food that contains large amounts of magnesium are rice bran (brown rice will contain the rice bran), wheat bran (whole wheat products will contain wheat bran), soy flour, peanut butter, cocoa, flax seeds, sunflower seeds.

Other ways to help treat the metabolic syndrome is to lose weight, exercise aerobically on a regular basis.  Eating fish and low fat meat can also help to lower triglycerides.  Avoid sugary drinks that are refined.  Choosing whole fruits instead of refined carbohydrates will also help.  Think whole grain in your food choices along with plenty of fruits and vegetables.  The DASH diet is one to help treat hypertension through diet.  The Pritikin diet along with an exercise program has also help metabolic syndrome patients as well.

You should make sure to check in with your doctor before deciding to do any new exercise or diet routine.  Regular checkups and treatment of metabolic syndrome before it advances to diabetes and heart disease is extremely important.

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