Hyperuricemia (HU, high uric acid blood levels) are becoming more common around the world, and 21% of Americans have HU. It increases the risk of inflammatory diseases, and it has been suggested that that low magnesium (MG) intake is associated with increased C-reactive protein (CRP is the most sensitive blood test marker for inflammation). The study was done based on the hypothesis that MG intake is associated with the prevalence of HU in the population of Hunan Province, China. The recommended daily allowance for MG in China is 350 mg/day.
The survey was done on 5,168 “healthy” subjects over 40 years of age. They underwent uric acid testing, completed an extensive food intake questionnaire, and had been tested for basal metabolic index (BMI). Hyperuricemia was defined as being over 415 or over 359 micromol/L for males and females respectively. The food questionnaires contained 63 food items, and the subjects were asked how often they ate each food. A number of lifestyle questions were asked concerning activities such as smoking and exercise.
Of the entire group, 16.7% were found to have HU. The subjects were divided into 5 groups (quintiles) according to their intake of MG. The quintiles with lower intakes of MG tended to have higher rates of HU. Those with higher intakes of MG had lower rates of HU. When males were studied alone, the rate of HU was 22.9%. Higher rates of HU were seen in subjects with higher intakes of meat, seafood, soft drinks, and fructose.
CONCLUSION: In this study of a Chinese population, the lowest rates of hyperuricemia (HU) were seen in those males consuming the most magnesium (MG) in their diets. The highest rates of HU were seen in males with the lowest intake of MG. These statements were not true for women*. Results suggest that MG must have a potential role in the prevention of HU.
NOTE: *Perhaps this could be somehow related to the lower rates of gout in women. In this study, only 10% of women had HU.
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Summary #762.
PMID: 26536119.
