Magnesium can reduce stroke risk

Increasing your daily magnesium intake may reduce your risk of stroke, a new meta-analysis from Sweden finds.

A pool of data from seven prospective studies found that an additional magnesium intake of 100 mg per day reduced the risk of stroke by approximately 9%.

Scientists have studied magnesium's role in cardiovascular health for over 80 years, without large randomized clinical trials. Nutritionists will continue to debate the effectiveness of magnesium for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease for decades to come.

Minerals and stroke

Diet has been shown to have an impact on stroke risk, particularly sodium intake associated with high blood pressure. Conversely, magnesium, potassium and calcium counteract hypertension. Previous research shows that a large proportion of adults do not get the recommended daily allowance for magnesium from their daily diet.

At the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, researchers performed a dose-dependent meta-analysis of seven studies with 241,378 participants. They found that for every 100 mg of magnesium per day, there was an 8% and 9% reduction in the risk of total stroke and ischemic stroke, respectively. However, no association has been observed between magnesium intake and other forms of stroke.

Several possible mechanisms for the action of magnesium come into question here, such as a blood pressure lowering effect of magnesium, or the role of magnesium in reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes by improving insulin sensitivity.

Literature:

- vital substances. The magazine for micronutrients and their effects. Edition 1/2012. 2. vintage
- Larsson S.C. et al. Dietary magnesium intake and risk of stroke: a meta-analysis of prospective studies.
   Am J Clin Nutr. 2012; 95(2): 362-366