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Higher Magnesium Intake May Reduce Risk Of Developing Type 2 Diabetes
Arlington
VA, 19 December 2003
New
data from the Nurses' Health Study and Harvard School of Public
Health suggest that a higher intake of magnesium may reduce the
risk of developing type 2 diabetes, which is one of the fastest
growing health epidemics in America. The study was published this
week in the current issue of the Journal of the American College
of Nutrition[1].
Research
has shown that low magnesium intake may impair insulin sensitivity,
or function. Consuming adequate levels of magnesium helps insulin
function properly in the body, which may prevent type 2 diabetes.
The study's authors said, "Because lower fasting insulin concentrations
generally reflect greater insulin sensitivity, these findings provide
a mechanism through which higher dietary magnesium may reduce the
risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus."
Increased
levels of blood magnesium also help inhibit clogging of the arteries
and thereby reduce heart disease risk.
However,
less than half of American adults consume recommended levels of
magnesium[2].
It
is possible to reach the Daily Value for magnesium—400 milligrams
per day—by eating a variety of whole foods, including legumes
such as peanuts, nuts, seeds, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.
One ounce of peanuts and two tablespoons of peanut butter provide
13% and 14% of the Daily Value, respectively[3]. Processing affects
the amount of magnesium in foods, so slightly processed or unprocessed
foods are the best choices—another reason peanuts and commercial
peanut butter are good sources of magnesium and many other beneficial
nutrients important for health.
The
Peanut Institute is a non-profit organization that supports nutrition
research and develops educational programs to encourage healthful
lifestyles.
References
[1]
Fung TT, Manson JE, Solomon CG, et al. "The association between
magnesium intake and fasting insulin concentration in healthy middle-
aged women." Journal of the American College of Nutrition.
2003;22:533- 538.
[2]
Ford ES, Mokdad AH. "Dietary magnesium intake in a national sample
of US adults." Journal of Nutrition. 2003;133:2879-2882.
[3]
USDA Database for Standard Reference, Release 16, July 2003.
Source
The
Peanut Institute (www.peanut-institute.org).
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