Magnesium intake may cut risk of gallstones

"Magnesium intake may cut risk of gallstones", Reuters, February 22,
2008,
Link: http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSSAT30666220080223

A diet rich in magnesium appears to reduce the risk developing painful
gallstones, according to findings from a US study.

Consumption of magnesium has been declining over the years, due in
part to the overprocessing of foods, Dr. Chung-Jyi Tsai and associates
note in their report in the American Journal of Gastroenterology.

Magnesium deficiency is known to raise triglyceride levels and
decrease HDL ("good") cholesterol levels in the blood, both of which
may increase the risk of developing gallstones. Still, the long-term
effect of magnesium on the risk of gallstones in humans was not known.

To investigate, Tsai, from the University of Kentucky Medical Center
in Lexington, and colleagues analyzed data from 42,705 men, between 40
and 75 years of age, who were enrolled in the Health Professionals
Follow-up Study. The men were followed from 1986 to 2002.

The subjects were surveyed every 2 years to assess the occurrence of
new illnesses, including gallbladder disease. Magnesium consumption
was determined with a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire
sent to the participants every 4 years.

During follow-up, 2195 men were diagnosed with gallstone disease, the
researchers found.

Compared with the lowest level of total magnesium intake, the highest
intake reduced the risk of gallstone disease by 33 percent. The same
risk reduction was seen when considering just dietary magnesium, when
supplements were excluded.

"From many studies by this group and others, it appears that a
generally healthy dietary pattern, with more plant-based foods, fiber,
and increasing complex carbohydrates, and now increasing magnesium
intake will decrease the risk of symptomatic gallstones," Dr. Cynthia
W. Ko, from the University of Washington in Seattle, writes in an
accompanying editorial. "This 'healthy' dietary pattern will also help
in prevention of other chronic diseases in addition to gallstones."

SOURCE: American Journal of Gastroenterology, February 2008.
.

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