Low Serum Magnesium Level is Associated with Hypertension in Bangladeshi Adults

Author(s): Rahman SMR, Rahman AS, Pramanik AK, Begum R, Rahim KA, Yesmin MS, Bhuiyan MMA, Islam MT, Rahman M, Islam MS, Sultana T

Background: Hypertension is a global health epidemic which is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in adult population. Trace element deficiencies are linked to the development of hypertension and its complications. Serum magnesium is a potential biomarker for prediction of magnesium status in body. One of the major homeostatic functions of magnesium is to regulate blood pressure (BP). Objective: This study was aimed to evaluate the association of serum magnesium with hypertension in Bangladeshi adult population.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Department of Laboratory Medicine, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka, Bangladesh from March 2020 to February 2021. A total of 100 adults (age ≥18 years) were enrolled purposively following selection criteria. Of them, 50 were diagnosed cases of hypertensive patients and rest 50 were normotensive healthy subjects as control group. Both hypertensive and normotensive group were selected according to blood pressure (BP) measurement and history taking. Their anthropometric measurements were done and body mass index (BMI) was calculated accordingly. Estimation of serum magnesium was done by automated biochemistry analyzer (BECKMAN COULTER, AU680), using the principle of photometric technique. All data were analyzed and compared by statistical tests.

Results: The mean(±SD) age was found 46.9±12.7 years in hypertensive individuals and that was 43.1±8.5 years in normotensive individuals. Male were predominant in both groups. Majority of the hypertensive patients were found over-weight. Mean(±SD) serum magnesium level was 1.73±0.24 mg/dl in hypertensive group and that was 2.02±0.19 mg/dl in normotensive group. It was observed that, mean(±SD) serum magnesium level was significantly lower in hypertensive group compared to control group (p<0.001). In hyperten