Magnesium deficiency triggers chronic systemic inflammation that also potentiates insulin resistance. - GreenMedInfo Summary

Magnesium (Mg) is an essential mineral for human health and plays an important role in the regulation of glucose homeostasis and insulin actions. Despite the widespread clinical evidences for the association of Mgdeficiency (MgD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D), molecular mechanisms by which Mgcontributes to insulin resistance (IR) are still under discussion. Mgregulates electrical activity and insulin secretion in pancreatic beta-cells. Intracellular Mgconcentrations are critical for the phosphorylation of the insulin receptor and other downstream signal kinases of the target cells. Low Mglevels result in a defective tyrosine kinase activity, post-receptor impairment in insulin action, altered cellular glucose transport, and decreased cellular glucose utilization, which promotes peripheral IR in T2D. MgD triggers chronic systemic inflammation that also potentiates IR. People with T2D may end up in a vicious circle in which MgD increases IR and IR causes MgD, that requires periodic monitoring of serum Mglevels.