Original Contribution Serum and Dietary Magnesium and Risk of Ischemic Stroke The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study

The authors sought to examine the relation between serum or dietary magnesium and the incidence of ischemic stroke among blacks and whites. Between 1987 and 1989, 14,221 men and women aged 45–64 years took part in the first examination of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study cohort. The incidence of stroke was ascer-tained from hospital records. Higher serum magnesium levels were associated with lower prevalence of hyperten-sion and diabetes mellitus at baseline. During the 15-year follow-up, 577 ischemic strokes occurred. Serum magnesium was inversely associated with ischemic stroke incidence. The age-, sex-, and race-adjusted rate ratios of ischemic stroke for those with serum magnesium levels of 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, and 1.8 mEq/L were 1.0, 0.78 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.62, 0.96), 0.70 (95%CI: 0.56, 0.88), and 0.75 (95%CI: 0.59, 0.95) (Ptrend 0.005). After adjustment for hypertension and diabetes, the rate ratios were attenuated to nonsignificant levels. Dietary magne-sium intake was marginally inversely associated with the incidence of ischemic stroke (Ptrend 0.09). Low serum magnesium levels could be associated with increased risk of ischemic stroke, in part, via effects on hypertension and diabetes. brain infarction; diet; magnesium; risk factors Abbreviations: ARIC, Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities; CI, confidence interval; CT, computerized tomography; HDL, high density lipoprotein; LDL, low density lipoprotein; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging; RR, rate ratio