Young adults with higher magnesium intake have a lower risk of developing the metabolic syndrome. This is the conclusion from an April 2006 article published in the journal Circulation.

Here are the details.

The study population consisted of 4637 Americans, aged 18 to 30 years, who were free from metabolic syndrome and diabetes at the beginning of the study. During the next 15 years there were 608 cases of the metabolic syndrome diagnosed. Magnesium intake was inversely associated with the incidence of the metabolic syndrome after adjustment for major lifestyle and dietary variables, and baseline status of each component of the metabolic syndrome.

A detailed summary of the study and some information on the metabolic syndrome are found at Alternative Health News Online. A good review of the metabolic syndrome is also available at the American Heart Association website.

Ready to increase your magnesium intake? Start by reading this report on magnesium published on the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements website.