Metabolomics:Open Access

Magnesium Metabolism, Vitamin D and Interleukins in Cardiovascular Disease

Abstract

Kisters K, Gremmler B, Gröber U and Tokmak F

A magnesium deficiency is known to be involved in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. In patients with essential hypertension intima media thickness is increased in about 70% (ELSA Study). In our study, we investigated 21 patients (10 female, 11 male, average age 56.3 ± 6.6 years) with untreated essential hypertension (grades I and II according to WHO guidelines). All patients had a hypomagnesiaemia in serum (1.57 ± 0.11 mg%). In all patients we found a significant increase in intima media thickness of arteria carotis communis (0.97 ± 0.08 mm) (r=-0.869, p<0.0001). The results show that a magnesium deficiency in patients with essential hypertension may be of special pathogenetic importance. In addition, the role of magnesium deficiency in the development of arteriosclerosis has to be discussed. Furthermore, we demonstrated a connection between magnesium deficiency and an increased intima media thickness. In this context, calcium antagonist therapy or magnesium supplementation may be of advantage when treating intima media thickness in hypertension. In addition in essential hypertensives with diabetes mellitus type IIb showing lowered magnesium (1.72 ± 0.08 mg/ dl) and vitamin D (9.55 ± 4.74 ng/ml) levels interleukine 6 concentrations were 8.57 ± 4.14 pg/ml (p<0.01 vs. controls) being a risk factor for metabolic disorder, e. g. arteriosclerosis.