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Clinical and Metabolic Responses to Magnesium Supplementation in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

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Abstract

We hypothesized that magnesium supplementation might help improve metabolic profiles and clinical symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) through its role in insulin action. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of magnesium supplementation on metabolic profiles and levels of sex hormones in women with PCOS. In this parallel randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, 60 women with PCOS aged 20–45 years were recruited. After stratification for body mass index (BMI), age, and types of medications, participants were randomly assigned to consume magnesium supplements (containing 250 mg magnesium oxide) or placebo for 8 weeks. To assess biochemical indicators, a venous blood sample was taken after an overnight fasting. The mean age of study participants was 26.4 years. We found that magnesium supplementation for 8 weeks among women with PCOS had favorable effects on BMI compared with the placebo group (changes from baseline in intervention group: − 0.31 ± 0.07 vs. 0.07 ± 0.09 kg/m2 in control group). In addition, the supplementation lead to preventing the increase in waist circumference in intervention group compared with the control group (0.02 vs. 1.15 cm). No significant effects on glycemic variables and lipid profile were seen following the magnesium supplementation. A significant increase in serum LH levels in intervention group and a decrease in placebo group were observed (P = 0.01). Although we found a significant decrease in serum testosterone levels in intervention and placebo groups, comparing the changes between the two groups, a marginally significant difference in serum testosterone levels was found (51.65 vs. 47.80 in intervention, 43.41 vs. 39.46 in placebo, P = 0.08). A significant increase in serum dehydroepiandrogens (DHEA) (136.32 vs. 172.37 intervention, 102.74 vs. 120.15 placebo, P = 0.01) was seen in two groups. Magnesium supplementation had no significant effects on FSH, 17OH-progesteron, sex hormone–binding globulin (SHBG), and free androgen index (FAI) levels. We found evidence indicating that magnesium supplementation did not influence serum lipid profiles and glycemic indicators among women with PCOS. Magnesium supplementation resulted in reduced BMI and testosterone levels as well as increased DHEA concentrations in women with PCOS. Also, magnesium supplementation may increase serum LH levels. ClinicalTrials.gov IRCT registration no. NCT02178150

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Abbreviations

PCOS:

Polycystic ovary syndrome

FPG:

Fasting plasma glucose

BMI:

Body mass index

DHEA:

Dehydroepiandrogens

Mg:

Magnesium

SHBG:

Sex hormone–binding globulin

FAI:

Free androgen index

HOMA-IR:

Homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance

HOMA-B:

Homeostatic model assessment of β-cell function

QUICKI:

Quantitative insulin sensitivity check index

CV:

Coefficients of variability

SD:

Standard deviation

BP:

Blood pressure

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Acknowledgments

This study was extracted from a MSc dissertation which was approved by the School of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences (No. 193021). We wish to thank all individuals who kindly participated in our study.

Funding

The financial support for this study comes from the Food Security Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Food Security Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

    Maryam Farsinejad-Marj, Leila Azadbakht, Parvane Saneei & Ahmad Esmaillzadeh

  2. Students’ Research Committee, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

    Maryam Farsinejad-Marj

  3. Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Science, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, PO Box 81745-151, Isfahan, Iran

    Maryam Farsinejad-Marj, Leila Azadbakht, Parvane Saneei & Ahmad Esmaillzadeh

  4. Department of Community Nutrition, School of Nutritional Sciences and Dietetics, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Leila Azadbakht & Ahmad Esmaillzadeh

  5. Obesity and Eating Habits Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Molecular - Cellular Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Leila Azadbakht & Ahmad Esmaillzadeh

  6. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

    Farahnaz Mardanian

Authors
  1. Maryam Farsinejad-Marj
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  2. Leila Azadbakht
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  4. Parvane Saneei
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Contributions

MF, LA, FM, PS, and AE contributed in conception, design, statistical analyses, data interpretation, and manuscript drafting. All authors approved the final manuscript for submission.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ahmad Esmaillzadeh.

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The study was approved by the ethics committee of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences.

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The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

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Farsinejad-Marj, M., Azadbakht, L., Mardanian, F. et al. Clinical and Metabolic Responses to Magnesium Supplementation in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. Biol Trace Elem Res 196, 349–358 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-019-01923-z

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