Hypomagnesemia in Obese Subjects: Evidence of Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Abstract

Background:: Magnesium deficiency is a global nutritional problem which seems to influence obesity-associated metabolic disorders because magnesium plays an important role in the prevention and treatment of many diseases. Objective:: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the relationship between plasma magnesium concentrations and obesity. Methods:: A systematic review and meta-analysis of case-control studies was conducted. Relevant studies were identified from a literature search using electronic databases. Results:: Ten case-control studies were evaluated in this meta-analysis. Results demonstrated that obese individuals presented lower plasma magnesium concentration than healthy individuals (standardized mean difference [SMD] = -0.44, 95% confidence interval = -0.88 to -0.01). In subgroup analyses, there were differences in plasma magnesium concentration between obese and healthy individuals according to study location, gender, case age, control age, method for assessment of magnesium concentration and study quality. Furthermore, meta-regression analyses showed that the source of heterogeneity of magnesium levels among studies was control age. Conclusion:: Evidence of this systematic review and meta-analysis show hypomagnesemia in obese individuals of both genders.