Zhang X, et al. – The dose–response relationships of baseline serum magnesium (Mg) concentrations with risk of mortalities were investigated in a large, nationally representative sample of US adults. In US adults, very low serum Mg concentrations were significantly correlated with an increased risk of all–cause mortality.

Methods

• Between 1971-1975, the physicians examined prospective data of 14,353 participants aged 25-74 years with measures of serum Mg concentrations at baseline from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey I Epidemiologic Follow-up Study (NHEFS).
• Using weighted multivariate-adjusted Cox proportional hazards models, the mortality hazard ratios (HRs) were estimated for participants within serum Mg categories of <0.7, 0.7-0.74, 0.75-0.79, 0.8-0.89 (referent), 0.9-0.94, 0.95-0.99, and ≥1.0mmol/L.

Results

• 9,012 deaths occurred during a median follow-up of 28.6 years, including 3,959 CVD deaths, 1,923 cancer deaths, and 708 stroke deaths.
• Across increasing categories of Mg, the multivariate-adjusted HRs (95% CIs) of all-cause mortality were 1.34 (1.02, 1.77), 0.94 (0.75, 1.18), 1.08 (0.97, 1.19), 1.00 (referent), 1.05 (0.95, 1.16), 0.96 (0.79, 1.15), and 0.98 (0.76, 1.26).
• Similar trends were observed for cancer (HRs for serum Mg <0.7: 1.39, 95% CI: 0.83, 2.32) and CVD mortality (HRs for serum Mg <0.7: 1.28, 95% CI: 0.81, 2.02), but were not statistically significant.
• Among participants with serum Mg < 0.70mmol/L, an elevated risk for stroke mortality was observed (HR: 2.55, 95% CI: 1.18, 5.48).