| Magnesium Intake May Cut Risk of Gallstones |
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Wednesday, 27 February 2008 04:19
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February 22, 2008 — Consumption of a diet rich in magnesium appears to reduce the risk of symptomatic gallstone disease, according to findings from a US study of over 42,000 men. Dietary consumption of magnesium has been declining over the years, lead author Dr. Chung-Jyi Tsai and colleagues note, due in part to the overprocessing of foods. Magnesium deficiency is known to cause elevated triglyceride levels and decreased HDL cholesterol levels, both of which may raise the risk of gallstones. Still, the long-term effect of magnesium consumption level on the risk of gallstones in humans was not known. To investigate, Dr. Tsai, from the University of Kentucky Medical Center in Lexington, and colleagues analyzed data from 42,705 men, between 40 and 75 years of age, who were enrolled in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study. The men were followed from 1986 to 2002. The subjects were surveyed every 2 years to assess the occurrence of new illnesses, including gallbladder disease. Magnesium consumption was determined with a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire sent to the subjects every 4 years. During 560,810 person-years of follow-up, 2195 men were diagnosed with symptomatic gallstone disease, the report shows. Compared with the lowest quintile of total magnesium intake (median 262 mg/day), the highest quintile of intake (454 mg/day) reduced the risk of gallstone disease by 33%. The same risk reduction was seen when considering just dietary magnesium (excludes supplements). After adjusting for potential confounding factors, the corresponding risk reductions fell slightly to 28% and 32%. "From many studies by this group and others, it appears that a generally healthy dietary pattern, with more plant-based foods, fiber, and increasing complex carbohydrates, and now increasing magnesium intake will decrease the risk of symptomatic gallstones and cholecystectomy," Dr. Cynthia W. Ko, from the University of Washington in Seattle, writes in an accompanying editorial. "This 'healthy' dietary pattern will also help in prevention of other chronic diseases in addition to gallstones." Am J Gastroenterol. 2008;103:375-382. http://www.medscape.com
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