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A new study, published recently in the British Journal of Nutrition has found that calcium and magnesium may reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome.

Over 9,000 adults were involved in the study, led by researchers from the Case Western Reserve University in the United States. The study measured known markers of metabolic syndrome – serum triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and glucose levels. Results showed that women who met the recommended US dietary allowance (RDA) for both magnesium (310-320mg daily) and calcium (1000-1200mg daily) had the largest decrease in risk of metabolic syndrome.

The results were slightly different for men; only when intakes were increased to over 386mg for magnesium and over 1224mg for calcium did the risks of metabolic syndrome decrease.

The researchers commented,

“The underlying mechanisms driving the differences we and others have observed by sex are not well understood and warrant additional mechanistic studies.”

The prevalence of metabolic syndrome has increased significantly in the Western world. It has been estimated that around one-fourth of the adult European population now has the condition.

References:
Moore-Schiltz, L, Albert J M, et al. Dietary intake of calcium and magnesium and the metabolic syndrome in the National Health and Nutrition Examination (NHANES) 2001-2010 data.  British Journal of Nutrition published online ahead of print, doi: 10.1017/S0007114515002482

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