Oral Magnesium Supplementation Reduces Ambulatory Blood Pressure in Patients With Mild Hypertension

• Published in: American journal of hypertension 2009-10, Vol.22 (10), p.1070-1075
• Main Authors: Hatzistavri, Lina S., Sarafidis, Pantelis A., Georgianos, Panagiotis I., Tziolas, Ioannis M., Aroditis, Costas P., Zebekakis, Pantelis E., Pikilidou, Maria I., Lasaridis, Anastasios N.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antihypertensive Agents - therapeutic use; Arterial hypertension. Arterial hypotension; Biological and medical sciences; Blood and lymphatic vessels; Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory; Cardiology. Vascular system; Clinical manifestations. Epidemiology. Investigative techniques. Etiology; Dietary Supplements; Humans; Hypertension - drug therapy; Hypertension - physiopathology; Magnesium - administration & dosage; Magnesium - therapeutic use; Medical sciences
• ISSN: 0895-7061; 1941-7225; 1879-1905
• DOI: 10.1038/ajh.2009.126

Background Accumulating evidence implicates a role of Mg2+ in the pathophysiology of essential hypertension. Previous studies evaluating the antihypertensive efficacy of Mg2+ supplementation gave contradictory results. This study aimed to investigate the effect of oral Mg2+ supplementation on 24-h blood pressure (BP) and intracellular ion status in patients with mild hypertension. Methods A total of 48 patients with mild uncomplicated hypertension participated in the study. Among them, 24 subjects were assigned to 600 mg of pidolate Mg2+ daily in addition to lifestyle recommendations for a 12-week period and another 24 age- and sex-matched controls were only given lifestyle recommendations. At baseline and study-end (12 weeks) ambulatory BP monitoring, determination of serum and intracellular ion levels, and 24-h urinary collections for determination of urinary Mg2+ were performed in all study subjects. Results In the Mg2+ supplementation group, small but significant reductions in mean 24-h systolic and diastolic BP levels were observed, in contrast to control group (−5.6 ± 2.7 vs. −1.3 ± 2.4 mm Hg, P < 0.001 and −2.8 ± 1.8 vs. −1 ± 1.2 mm Hg, P = 0.002, respectively). These effects of Mg2+ supplementation were consistent in both daytime and night-time periods. Serum Mg2+ levels and urinary Mg2+ excretion were significantly increased in the intervention group. Intracellular Mg2+ and K+ levels were also increased, while intracellular Ca2+ and Na+ levels were decreased in the intervention group. None of the intracellular ions were significantly changed in the control group. Conclusion This study suggests that oral Mg2+ supplementation is associated with small but consistent ambulatory BP reduction in patients with mild hypertension.