Increased magnesium and calcium intake liked with lower risk of developing diabetes

The findings of a large prospective study of Asian women demonstrate that calcium and magnesium protect us from developing type 2 diabetes. The researchers at Vanderbilt University and Shanghai Cancer Institute evaluated data from 64,191 participants in the Shanghai Women's Health Study that included women aged 40-70 living in Shanghai, China. Over an almost 7 year follow-up period, 2,270 reported cases of diabetes were diagnosed. For those whose Calcium intake was among the highest 20% at a median of 650mg per day, a 27% lower risk of diabetes was observed compared with those whose intake was among the lowest fifth at 278mg. Magnesium was also associated with a protective effect. Subjects whose intake of magnesium was highest at a median of 318mg per day experienced a 20% average lower risk compared with those in the lowest category. “Our findings support the hypothesis that calcium and magnesium play a protective role in the development of type 2 diabetes,” the authors conclude. The study is published in the March, 2009 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.