Magnesium and muscle performance in older persons: The InCHIANTI study

Ligia J. Dominguez, Mario Barbagallo, Fulvio Lauretani, Stefania Bandinelli, Angelo Bos, Anna Maria Corsi, Eleanor M. Simonsick, Luigi Ferrucci

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

100 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: The role of magnesium in maintaining muscle integrity and function in older adults is largely unknown. Objective: We aimed to investigate the relation between serum magnesium concentrations and muscle performance in older subjects. Design: Data are from the baseline examination conducted between September 1998 and March 2000 of the InCHIANTI (aging in the Chianti area) study, a prospective epidemiologic survey of risk factors for late-life disability. From among 1453 randomly selected community residents completing a home interview, 1138men(46%) and women (aged 66.7 ± 15.2 y; x- ± SD) with complete data on muscle performance and serum magnesium who were not severely cognitively compromised and had no evidence of kidney disease or hypercalcemia were included in the analysis. Muscle performance was evaluated by grip strength, lower-leg muscle power, knee extension torque, and ankle extension isometric strength and was normalized for age and body mass index (BMI) within each sex. Results: After adjustment for age, sex, BMI, laboratory variables, presence of chronic diseases, muscle area, muscle density, and physical activity level, serum magnesium concentrations were significantly associated with indexes of muscle performance, including grip strength (β = 2.0 ± 0.5, P = 0.0002), lower-leg muscle power (β = 8.8 ± 2.7, P = 0.001), knee extension torque (β = 31.2 ± 7.9, P < 0.0001), and ankle extension strength (β = 3.8 ± 0.5, P < 0.0001). Conclusions: The serum magnesium concentration is an independent correlate of muscle performance in older persons. Whether magnesium supplementation improves muscle function remains to be shown.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)419-426
Number of pages8
JournalAmerican Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Volume84
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 1 2006
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Aging
  • Magnesium
  • Muscle performance
  • Muscle strength
  • Sarcopenia

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Medicine (miscellaneous)
  • Nutrition and Dietetics

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