Poor Magnesium Status Increases Mortality Risk in MASLD and MetALD Patients, reveals research
Researchers have found in a new study that Higher magnesium depletion scores are associated with increased all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality in patients with MASLD and MetALD. Further Longitudinal data suggest a strong link between magnesium depletion and elevated mortality risks in these patient populations. This study was conducted by Lei Fan and fellow researchers which was published in the journal Nutrients.
A total of 3,802 patients diagnosed with MASLD or MetALD were followed up for a median period of 26 years. MDS was calculated according to four determinants of renal magnesium reabsorption. The Cox proportional hazard regression models estimated the association between MDS and all-cause, CVD, and cancer-specific mortality.
Results
A higher MDS (>2) was linked to a 2.52-fold increased risk of all-cause mortality compared with participants having an MDS of 0 (HR: 2.52; 95% CI: 1.77-3.61; p< 0.0001).
CVD-related mortality was even higher, with a 3.01-fold increase (HR: 3.01; 95% CI: 1.87-4.86; p< 0.0001).
The association was more potent among those individuals who did not reach the estimated average requirement for magnesium intake (HR: 2.72; 95% CI: 1.69-4.37; p=0.0014).
Individuals with an FIB-4 index < 1.3 had a significantly higher risk for all-cause mortality, with an HR of 2.95 (95% CI: 1.69-5.15; p=0.0006).
Magnesium is essential for many metabolic functions, such as glucose regulation, cardiovascular health, and liver function. The benefits of magnesium supplementation or dietary interventions aimed at increasing magnesium intake among high-risk patients are highlighted by this study.
The authors of the study concluded that poor magnesium status as reflected by higher MDS is highly associated with greater rates of all-cause and CVD mortality among MASLD and MetALD patients. Addressing the underlying magnesium deficiency in this population using dietary and appropriate supplement interventions may yield long-term health benefits and an improved survival outcome.
Reference:
Fan L, Zhu X, Zhang X, Salvador S, Zhang X, Shrubsole MJ, Izzy MJ, Dai Q. Magnesium Depletion Score and Mortality in Individuals with Metabolic Dysfunction Associated Steatotic Liver Disease over a Median Follow-Up of 26 Years. Nutrients. 2025 Jan 10;17(2):244. doi: 10.3390/nu17020244. PMID: 39861373; PMCID: PMC11767615
