Intracellular magnesium of obese and type 2 diabetes mellitus children.

INTRODUCTION: Magnesium is a critical cofactor in numerous enzymatic reactions. Diabetic patients and obese subjects are often reported to have intracellular magnesium ([Mg(2+)](i)) deficiency. We studied the change of [Mg(2+)](i) in obese children and children with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) after educational intervention or treatment.

METHODS: A total of 25 subjects were included: 13 with simple obesity (10 male, 3 female; mean age 16±8 years, intervention period 1.0±0.6 years), 12 with DM2 (8 male, 4 female; mean age 15±3 years, medication period 1.1±0.7 years), and 16 controls (8 male, 8 female; mean age 17±7 years). By using a fluorescent probe, mag-fura-2, we examined the basal and insulin-stimulated [Mg(2+)](i) of platelets in the blood. Plasma leptin, ghrelin, adiponectin, and resistin levels were determined with the use of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTS: Mean basal [Mg(2+)](i) was lower in the obesity (160±65 μmol/L) and DM2 groups (140±30 μmol/L) compared with the control group (330±28 μmol/L). The elevated [Mg(2+)](i) after insulin stimulation was also lower in these two groups (420±140 μmol/L, and 330±70 μmol/L, respectively) compared with the control group (690±270 μmol/L). In the DM2 group, the basal [Mg(2+)](i) was significantly increased after treatment, while in the obesity group, stimulated [Mg(2+)](i) was increased after intervention.

CONCLUSION: Platelet [Mg(2+)](i) increased after intervention in children with obesity or DM2.