ORAL-ADMINISTRATION OF MAGNESIUM-HYDROXIDE TO SUBJECTS WITH INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETES-MELLITUS - EFFECTS ON MAGNESIUM AND POTASSIUM LEVELS AND ON INSULIN REQUIREMENTS

  • 1 May 1988
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 7  (3) , 117-122
Abstract
Intra- and extracellular levels of magnesium and potassium were determined in 16 subjects with insulin-dependent type I diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and 30 healthy controls. Subjects with IDDM had lower levels of magnesium in muscle biopsies (p < 0.001), plasma (p < 0,.001), and mononuclear cells (p < 0.05) and higher urinary excretions of magnesium (p < 0.001), and lower levels of potassium in muscle biopsies (p < 0.001), and erythrocytes (p < 0.05), as compared with those in controls. Magnesium hydroxide (500 mg/day) was administered orally to the diabetics. Th levels of magnesium and potassium in muscle biopsies increased (p < 0.001; p < 0.001), while the plasma levels of magnesium and the urinary excretions of magnesium increased only temporarily, during 21 weeks of treatment. The requirements of insulin were reduced (p < 0.001) during the course of the study, whereas the levels of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and glucose were not changed. The findings indicate that administration of magnesium hydroxide is useful to treat muscular magnesium and potassium deficiency in diabetics.