More Evidence for Mineral Deficiencies in Overweight Individuals

Research suggests that obesity is caused by complex metabolic changes which result in insulin resistance, abdominal fat accumulation and lipoprotein changes. In addition, inflammation and oxidative stress appear to be elevated in obese individuals, possibly as a result of increased cytokine production from adipose tissue. The cause of these metabolic abnormalities is not fully understood, but evidence suggests that a poor quality diet is major contributory factor. Low quality diets tend to contain too many refined carbohydrates, particularly fructose, as well as low amounts of fibre, whole grains, vitamins and minerals. A number of papers have now been published that establish the link between low quality diets and disease, particularly diabetes, cardiovascular disease and obesity. Low quality diets cause obese individuals to develop multiple mineral deficiencies that result in decreased enzyme activity on important metabolic pathways.

Supplementation with a number of essential nutrients has been shown to be beneficial to obese individuals, probably because of correction of an underlying deficiency. For example, researchers1 have investigated the effects of magnesium citrate (supplying 500 mg of elemental magnesium) per day for 4 weeks (or a placebo) on metabolic biomarkers in 14 healthy overweight volunteers (body mass index ≥ 25 kg/m2). Following 4 weeks, the treatment and placebo groups had a 1 month washout period, and then crossed over to the opposite group. The results showed that magnesium supplementation resulted in a significant decrease in C-peptide concentrations and also caused a decrease in fasting insulin levels. The treatment group also experienced an up-regulation of 24 genes and a down-regulation of 36 genes relating to metabolic and inflammatory pathways with distinct differences in the expression amounts between individuals.

These results suggest that obese individuals may benefit from magnesium supplementation with respect to the normal function of insulin. C-peptide is a peptide chain used by the body to construct the insulin molecule (along with the A- and B-peptides) and the reduction in its concentration may suggest increases in the efficiency of insulin. This increased insulin sensitivity is also suggested by the decrease in the fasting insulin concentration. Insulin is known to be strongly involved in the feedback to the hypothalamus with respect to appetite and energy balance. Obese individuals with magnesium deficiencies may be unable to properly regulate this feedback loop, with the result that satiety and energy balance control are impeded. The regulation of gene expression by increased magnesium intake in interesting and supports previous findings that indicate that epigenetic factors may contribute significantly to the development of disease.

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1Chacko, S. A., Sul, J., Song, Y., Li, X., LeBlanc, J., You, Y., Butch, A. and Liu, S. 2011. Magnesium supplementation, metabolic and inflammatory markers, and global genomic and proteomic profiling: a randomized double-blind, controlled, cross-over trial in overweight individuals. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 93: 463-473

About Robert Barrington

Robert Barrington is a writer, nutritionist, lecturer and philosopher.
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