High dietary intake of magnesium and fibre mitigates risk of metabolic syndrome among Kuwaiti women – study

MetS is a group of metabolic abnormalities, including obesity, hypertension and impaired glucose metabolism, that together increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, and chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes.

Kuwait is reportedly ranked among the world’s top 10 countries with the highest obesity rate, with a particularly high prevalence among women. In fact, statistics reveal that approximately 37.7% of Kuwaiti women aged 20 years or older have MetS.

Observational studies worldwide have consistently implicated that dietary intake of magnesium and fiber is related to a reduced risk of MetS, but their specific effects remain underexplored.

To examine the association between magnesium and fibre consumption and the prevalence of MetS, a study including 170 women in Kuwait aged 18 to 65 years was conducted.

Data on dietary intake were collected using a modified Semi-Quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (SFFQ), which covered 119 foods consumed over the past 12 months.

Biochemical measurements were taken to evaluate serum magnesium levels and other metabolic markers, while MetS was diagnosed according to International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) criteria.

It was found that the prevalence of MetS was 24% (IDF) and 18% (ATP III), and that participants with MetS had significantly lower dietary magnesium and fibre intakes than those without (p < 0.001).

Further analysis showed that higher dietary magnesium and fibre intakes were linked to reduced odds of developing MetS and its components, except blood pressure.

The other measurements included waist circumference, triglyceride (TG) level, fasting plasma glucose (FPG) level, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level.

These results underscore the importance of magnesium and fibre in metabolic health. 

“The high prevalence of hypomagnesemia (magnesium deficiency) among women with MetS was significantly correlated with a lower dietary magnesium intake. The strong agreement between dietary magnesium inadequacy and low serum magnesium concentrations suggests that dietary assessments can reliably reflect magnesium status in the body. ​

“Our study also identified that 18.8% of all participants fell below the estimated average requirement (EAR) and 24.1% below recommended daily allowance (RDA) for their age. Furthermore, 58.5% of women with MetS fell below the EAR, compared to 6.2% of those without MetS (65.9% and 10.9% below RDA, respectively),” ​the authors wrote.

The researchers also believe that the findings could potentially contribute to shaping public health strategies aimed at reducing the burden of MetS in Kuwait, especially among the female demographic.

“​Moreover, regular dietary assessments in clinical practice could help identify individuals at risk of nutrient deficiencies and associated metabolic disorders. Our findings indicate that while dietary interventions can effectively mitigate several risk factors for MetS, additional strategies may be necessary to address hypertension in women.”​

Dietary trends call for intervention ​

Rapid economic growth in Kuwait has led to profound lifestyle changes, including dietary habits. Traditional diets, once based on whole foods, have shifted towards a high consumption of refined carbohydrates and heavily processed foods.

“The current Kuwaiti diet is characterised by high-calorie, -cholesterol, and -sodium content, with low levels of fibre and crucial fatty acids such as omega-6 and omega-3. ​

“Refined grains, which dominate the diet, lack essential nutrients like magnesium, calcium, zinc, and vitamin E, all of which are important for reducing the risk of diabetes, heart disease, and MetS.” ​

These dietary trends are expected to cause MetS prevalence to continue rising in Kuwait, urging the need for nutritional interventions.

“Addressing dietary inadequacies through targeted nutritional strategies, including prioritising the consumption of magnesium- and fibre-rich foods, such as vegetables, nuts, legumes, and whole grains, could significantly reduce the prevalence of MetS and improve the overall metabolic health of the population.”​

An essential cofactor in multiple enzymatic reactions, magnesium influences insulin sensitivity and lipid metabolism, and its deficiency has been linked to various metabolic disorders, including insulin resistance, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and hypertension.

Previous studies have also reported an inverse association between dietary magnesium and C-reactive protein, a marker of systemic inflammation and a predictor of MetS.

Similarly, fibre is well-recognised for its positive effects on weight management, glycaemic control and lipid profiles, with dietary fibre intake being associated with lower FBG and glycated haemoglobin A1c (HbA1C) levels in individuals with type 2 diabetes.

Nevertheless, it should be noted that the lack of male participants in this study limits the generalisability of the findings to the entire population.

Other limitations include the omission of potential confounders, such as other nutrient components like calcium and phosphorus, which may interact with dietary magnesium.

“Future longitudinal studies are required to establish causal relationships between dietary intake and MetS. In addition, there is a need for more comprehensive studies considering various sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, such as physical activity, smoking, sleep quality, and working conditions.​

“There should also be focus on the potential role of functional foods or bioactive components in improving MetS symptoms, and personalised nutrition approaches that evaluate gene-nutrient interactions, and the potential protective effects of specific dietary patterns,” ​the researchers concluded.

Source: Frontiers in Nutrition

https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2024.1451220​

“Low dietary magnesium and fiber intakes among women with metabolic syndrome in Kuwait”​

Authors: Dalal U. Z. Alkazemi, et al