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Magnesium Oxide and Diabetes

The National Institutes of Health says magnesium is "the fourth most abundant mineral in the body and is essential to good health." This being said, a person in danger of developing diabetes and metabolic syndrome can benefit from supplementation of this mineral.

  1. Effect on Diabetes

    • Magnesium oxide "may influence the release and activity of insulin, the hormone that helps control blood glucose (sugar) levels," says diabetesmonitor.com. Individuals who are pre-diabetic have a condition called hypomagnesemia, or insufficient blood levels of magnesium oxide.

    Side Effects

    • It has been reported in the National Institutes of Health that nausea, vomiting, tarry stools, dizziness, skin rash and weakness have occasionally occurred with magnesium oxide therapy.

    Food Sources of Magnesium Oxide

    • A diet rich in whole grains, vegetables and certain kinds of beans (particularly lima and navy) are excellent ways of naturally boosting blood levels of magnesium oxide.

    Warnings

    • Taking too much magnesium oxide can result in magnesium toxicity, resulting in nausea, diarrhea and dangerously low blood pressure.

    Expert Insight

    • Biomedical expert Masaaki Inaba says that if certain individuals maintain low magnesium oxide levels, metabolic syndrome can result. Metabolic syndrome, which is a group of symptoms occurring simultaneously, can promote the existence of not only Type-2 Diabetes, but also coronary artery disease and stroke as well.

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