The Effect of Routine Magnesium Supplementation on Blood Pressure and Blood Lipids in Cyclosporine-Treated Renal Allograft Recipients

Objective: To determine whether routine magnesium supplementation has beneficial effects on blood lipids and blood pressure in cyclosporine-treated stable renal allograft recipients. Design: Randomized, double-blind, cross-over trial. Setting: University-affiliated medical center. Patients: Twenty-six cyclosporine-treated renal transplant patients with a serum creatinine level less than 220 μmol/L (2.5 mg/dL). Intervention: Oral magnesium hydroxide (approximately 20 to 30 mmol/d [40 to 60 mEq/d]) or placebo. Main outcome measure: Blood pressure and serum lipids. Results: Magnesium supplementation resulted in an increase in serum magnesium (0.74 ± 0.02 mmol/L [1.5 ± 0.1 mEq/L] to 0.81 ± 0.02 mmol/L [1.6 ± 0.1 mEq/L]; P < .005) and urine magnesium excretion rates (4.7 ± 0.5 mmol/L [9.4 ± 1.0 mEq/d] to 7.0 ± 0.5 mmol/d [14.0 ± 1.0 mEq/d]; P < .0005). Associated with these changes were a significant increase in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (1.32 ± 0.10 mmol/L [51 ± 4 mg/dL] to 1.44 ± 0.12 mmol/L [56 ± 5 mg/dL]; P < .05) and a significant decrease in the total cholesterol-to-HDL cholesterol ratio (5.52 ± 0.60 to 4.77 ± 0.40; P < 0.01). No effect was seen on blood pressure. Conclusion: Routine, short-term magnesium supplementation in stable, well-functioning renal transplant recipients has favorable effects on blood lipids.