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Oral magnesium supplementation improves endothelial function and attenuates subclinical atherosclerosis in thiazide-treated hypertensive women.

  • 2017-01
  • Journal of hypertension 35(1)
    • Ana Rosa Cunha
    • Jenifer D'El-Rei
    • Fernanda Medeiros
    • Bianca Umbelino
    • Wille Oigman
    • Rhian M Touyz
    • Mario F Neves

Study Design

Type
Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
Population
hypertensive women (40-65 years) on hydrochlorothiazide
Methods
randomized, double-blind, clinical trial; magnesium chelate 600 mg/day vs placebo
Blinding
Double-blind
Duration
6-month follow-up
Funding
Unclear

Background

Epidemiological studies demonstrate an inverse association between serum magnesium and incidence of cardiovascular disease. Diuretics commonly cause hypomagneseamia.

Method

We evaluated effects of magnesium supplementation on blood pressure (BP) and vascular function in thiazide-treated hypertensive women in a randomized, double-blind, clinical trial. Hypertensive women (40-65 years) on hydrochlorothiazide and mean 24-h BP at least 130/80 mmHg were divided into placebo and supplementation (magnesium chelate 600 mg/day) groups. Patients were evaluated for nutritional and biochemical parameters, office and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, brachial flow-mediated dilatation (FMD), peripheral arterial tonometry, assessment of carotid intima-media thickness, central hemodynamic parameters and pulse wave velocity at inclusion and after 6-month follow-up.

Results

The magnesium group had a significant reduction in SBP (144 ± 17 vs. 134 ± 14 mmHg, P = 0.036) and DBP (88 ± 9 vs. 81 ± 8 mmHg, P = 0.005) at 6 months, without effect on plasma glucose, lipids, or arterial stiffness parameters. The placebo group showed a significant increase in carotid intima-media thickness (0.78 ± 0.13 vs. 0.89 ± 0.14 mm, P = 0.033) without change in the magnesium group (0.79 ± 0.16 vs. 0.79 ± 0.19 mm, P = 0.716) after 6 months. The magnesium group demonstrated a significant increase in variation of FMD vs. the placebo group (+3.7 ± 2.1 vs. 2.4 ± 1.2%, P = 0.015). There was a significant correlation between the intracellular magnesium variation and FMD (r = 0.44, P = 0.011).

Conclusion

Magnesium supplementation was associated with better BP control, improved endothelial function and amelioration of subclinical atherosclerosis in these thiazide-treated hypertensive women.

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