JACC Cardiovasc Imaging 2013 Nov 27;[EPub Ahead of Print], A Hruby, CJ O’Donnell, PF Jacques, JB Meigs, U Hoffmann, NM McKeown Research · December 09, 2013

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This Framingham Heart Study–based analysis reported an inverse correlation between self-reported total (dietary and supplemental) magnesium intake and coronary artery calcification. This association remained significant after adjusting for cardiometabolic risk factors, potential mediators, and, intriguingly, even abdominal aortic calcification.
Even though plausible explanations exist, causality needs to be confirmed in order to understand implications for cardiovascular prevention.
– Joerg Herrmann, MD

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to examine whether magnesium intake is associated with coronary artery calcification (CAC) and abdominal aortic calcification (AAC).

BACKGROUND

Animal and cell studies suggest that magnesium may prevent calcification within atherosclerotic plaques underlying cardiovascular disease. Little is known about the association of magnesium intake and atherosclerotic calcification in humans.

METHODS

We examined cross-sectional associations of self-reported total (dietary and supplemental) magnesium intake estimated by food frequency questionnaire with CAC and AAC in participants of the Framingham Heart Study who were free of cardiovascular disease and underwent Multi-Detector Computed Tomography (MDCT) of the heart and abdomen (n = 2,695; age: 53 ± 11 years), using multivariate-adjusted Tobit regression. CAC and AAC were quantified using modified Agatston scores (AS). Models were adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, smoking status, systolic blood pressure, fasting insulin, total-to-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio, use of hormone replacement therapy (women only), menopausal status (women only), treatment for hyperlipidemia, hypertension, cardiovascular disease prevention, or diabetes, as well as self-reported intake of calcium, vitamins D and K, saturated fat, fiber, alcohol, and energy. Secondary analyses included logistic regressions of CAC and AAC outcomes as cut-points (AS >0 and AS ≥90th percentile for age and sex), as well as sex-stratified analyses.

RESULTS

In fully adjusted models, a 50-mg/day increment in self-reported total magnesium intake was associated with 22% lower CAC (p < 0.001) and 12% lower AAC (p = 0.07). Consistent with these observations, the odds of having any CAC were 58% lower (p trend: <0.001) and any AAC were 34% lower (p trend: 0.01), in those with the highest compared to those with the lowest magnesium intake. Stronger inverse associations were observed in women than in men.

CONCLUSIONS

In community-dwelling participants free of cardiovascular disease, self-reported magnesium intake was inversely associated with arterial calcification, which may play a contributing role in magnesium’s protective associations in stroke and fatal coronary heart disease.

Full Story:  http://www.practiceupdate.com/journalscan/7045
Journal Reference:  http://www.jacccardiovascularimaging.com/article/S1936-878X(13)00778-X/abstract