Magnesium May Lower Diabetes Risk
(NY, Reuters Health, 12/23/03)

Dr. Simin Liu of the Harvard Medical School and School of Public Health in Boston, and team, tracked dietary and health data for over 42,000 male health professionals for 12 years and about 85,000 female nurses for 18 years. In both groups, subjects with diets richest in magnesium—including nuts, leafy greens and whole grains--were least likely to develop type 2 diabetes, a condition characterized by insulin resistance. In a second study, Dr. Liu and colleagues monitored 39,000 women who were free of diabetes, cancer and heart disease at the outset. The researchers found that during the next 6 years, the odds of developing diabetes were greater for overweight or obese women who consumed less dietary magnesium. Further clinical trials will have to be conducted to establish magnesium’s long-term role in preventing diabetes.