Lee Swanson Research Update

Magnesium Reduces Sudden Heart Failure Risk in Women

December 2010

Increased intakes of magnesium-rich foods are associated with a reduced risk of sudden cardiac death, says new research from Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School.

The highest dietary intakes of the mineral were associated with a 37% reduction in the risk of sudden cardiac death, compared with the lowest average intakes, according to new findings published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

The apparent protective effects of magnesium were strongest when the researchers focused their attention on blood levels, with every 0.25 mg per deciliter increase associated with a 41% reduction in the risk of sudden cardiac death.

Sudden cardiac death, according to the British Journal of Sports Medicine is defined as: "An event that is non-traumatic, non-violent, unexpected and resulting from sudden cardiac arrest within six hours of previously witnessed normal health."

Dietary sources of magnesium include green, leafy vegetables, meats, starches, grains, nuts and milk. Earlier dietary surveys show that a large portion of adults does not meet the RDA for magnesium (320 mg per day for women and 420 mg per day for men). Potential cardiovascular health benefits of the mineral were highlighted in a review in the Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (21:651-657, 2009).

The new study adds to this body of evidence by indicating a protective role in women from sudden cardiac death. The Boston-based researchers, led by Stephanie Chiuve, analyzed data from 88,375 women participating in the Nurses’ Health Study.

During an impressive 26 years of follow-up, a total of 505 cases of sudden or arrhythmic death were documented by the researchers. Subsequent analysis of the role of magnesium was performed with data from 99 cases of sudden cardiac death and 291 women who did not die.

After adjusting the data for a range of factors that could potentially affect the result, like smoking, age and presence of cardiovascular disease, the researchers noted that the highest intakes and the highest blood levels of magnesium were associated with significant decreases in the risk of sudden cardiac death, compared with the lowest average intakes and blood levels.

"In this prospective cohort of women, higher plasma concentrations and dietary magnesium intakes were associated with lower risks of sudden cardiac death. If the observed association is causal, interventions directed at increasing dietary or plasma magnesium might lower the risk of sudden cardiac death," the researchers concluded.

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition Published online ahead of print.

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