A recent study involving a large group of women studied over 26 years found that those with the highest magnesium intake (and corresponding plasma levels) had a 41% lower risk of sudden cardiac death.
Magnesium has beneficial cardiovascular properties in cellular and experimental models, but its relation to sudden cardiac death (SCD) risk in humans is unclear.
In a recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, researchers examined the association between magnesium, as measured in diet and plasma, and risk of SCD. The association for magnesium intake was examined prospectively in 88,375 women who were free of disease in 1980 and part of the Nurses’ Health Study. Information on magnesium intake, other nutrients, and lifestyle factors was updated every 2–4 years through questionnaires. In this group of women, there were 505 cases of sudden or arrhythmic death documented over 26 years of follow-up.
After adjustment for confounders and potential intermediaries, the relative risk of SCD was significantly lower in women in the highest quartile of both dietary intake and plasma levels of magnesium (when compared to those in the lowest quartile). The inverse relation with SCD was stronger for plasma magnesium than dietary intake of magnesium, with each 0.25 mg/dL (one standard deviation) increment in plasma magnesium associated with a 41% lower risk of SCD.
In this study group of women, higher plasma concentrations and dietary intakes of magnesium were associated with lower risks of SCD. The researchers stated that if the observation is causal, interventions aimed at increasing dietary or plasma magnesium might lower the risk of sudden cardiac death.
Chiuve SE, et al. Plasma and dietary magnesium and risk of sudden cardiac death in women. 2011. Am J Clin Nutr 93(2):253-260.
Higher Dietary Fiber Intake Reduces Risk of Death in Older Adults
Previous research on dietary fiber has shown beneficial effects in lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and some cancers. Less is known about the effect of dietary fiber on overall mortality and specific causes of death.
In a recent study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, researchers analyzed dietary fiber intake in relation to total mortality and death from specific causes in the NIH (National Institutes of Health)-AARP Diet and Health Study. The study included over 500,000 men and women ages 50-71 who answered questionnaires with specific diet and lifestyle questions. Diet was assessed using a food-frequency questionnaire at baseline, then again after an average of 9 years of follow-up.
Researchers identified 20,126 deaths in men and 11,330 deaths in women during the study period. Cause of death was identified using the National Death Index Plus.
Dietary fiber intake was associated with a 22% reduction in risk of total death in both men and women. Dietary fiber intake also lowered the risk of death from cardiovascular, infectious, and respiratory diseases by 24% to 56% in men and by 34% to 59% in women. In men, there was an inverse association between dietary fiber intake and cancer death. Dietary fiber from grains was most closely related to a reduction in the risk of overall mortality and cause-specific death in both men and women.
Dietary fiber may reduce the risk of death from cardiovascular, infectious, and respiratory diseases. Ensuring adequate fiber intake by eating a fiber-rich diet appears to provide significant health benefits.
Park Y, Subar AF, Hollenbeck A, Schatzkin A. Dietary Fiber Intake and Mortality in the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study. 2011. Arch Intern Med, published online 14-Feb-2011. doi:10.1001/archinternmed.2011.18 http://archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/archinternmed.2011.18v1
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