Serum magnesium status among obese children and adolescents

• Published in: The Gazette of the Egyptian Paediatric Association 2016-03, Vol.64 (1), p.32-37
• Main Authors: Zaakouk, Ali M., Hassan, Mohammed A., Tolba, Omar A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescents; Children; Magnesium; Obesity; Serum lipid profile; الأمراض; السمنة; الطب; المراهقون; المغنيسيوم; طب الأطفال; مسببات الأمراض; مصل الدم
• ISSN: 1110-6638; 2090-9942
• DOI: 10.1016/j.epag.2015.11.002

Serum magnesium is involved in the pathogenesis of obesity and its related diseases. The aim of the present study was to evaluate serum magnesium status in obese children and adolescents and to study its relationship with the degree of obesity and serum lipid profile. A cross-sectional study was conducted at the general pediatric out-patient clinic of a university hospital, over a period of 5months from May to September 2013. 50 obese subjects of ages 2–16years and 50 healthy normal weight subjects of matched age and sex as controls were consecutively enrolled. Comprehensive history, anthropometric measurements and blood pressure were taken. BMI and degree of obesity were calculated. Fasting total serum magnesium, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides were measured. Obese cases compared to normal weight controls showed significantly lower serum magnesium and HDL-cholesterol levels and significantly higher total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, systolic and diastolic blood pressures. Serum magnesium showed a significant, strong inverse correlation with the degree of obesity (r=−0.8, p