By Jimmy Downs

Saturday Feb 02, 2013 (foodconsumer.org) -- Magnesium has been associated with some risk factors for cardiovascular disease and atherosclerosis including such as "lipid profile, serum albumin, C-reactive protein, serum phosphorus, parathyroid hormone, and diabetes mellitus in hemodialysis patients" in hemodialysis patients. 

The current study led by M. R. Khatami from Tehran University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, Iran and colleagues found no association between magnesium levels and risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

The study published in Iran Journal of Kidney Disease analysed data from 103 patients with end-stage kidney disease who were using hemodialysis to determine associations between serum magnesium levels and risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

The study did not find significant differences in serum magnesium between patients with low and high values of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol or good cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol or bad cholesterol, and blood pressure, meaning that magnesium was not associated with these cardiovascular risk factors.

However, serum magnesium was significantly correlated with the serum phosphorus level and albumin level although serum magnesium level was not associated with "age, body mass index, systolic blood pressure before dialysis, serum calcium, lipid profile, and apoprotein(a)."

The researchers concluded "In our cohort of hemodialysis patients, there were no correlations between serum magnesium levels and atherogenic lipids, serum calcium, or parathyroid hormone."