Magnesium is a Missing Link in The Gut-Obesity Connection

*Magnesium is a Missing Link in The Gut-Obesity Connection *

*A remarkable new study has found that magnesium deficiency may decrease
bifidobacteria, cause leaky gut, increase systemic inflammation and
subsequently lead to weight gain, diabetes and heart disease. *

Mice fed magnesium deficient diets had declines in bifidobacterium.
Bifidobacterium are known to maintain a healthy gut barrier and not
surprisingly magnesium deficient mice had increased leaky gut. Leaky gut
leads to increased translocation of endotoxin. Endotoxin activates the
inflammatory response both in the gut and systemically. Leaky gut and
systemic inflammation has recently been linked to the development of
obesity, diabetes and heart disease in humans. This study found
increased inflammatory markers in the liver and intestine of magnesium
deficient mice suggesting magnesium deficiency may lead to disease
development through an influence on gut flora and the development of
leaky gut.

*Comment: *
Magnesium deficiency is very common and related to increased low-grade
inflammation and the development of chronic disease such as
hypertension, obesity and type-2 diabetes. The way in which magnesium
influences the inflammatory response however is still poorly
understood. This study suggests, for the first time, that the
optimization of magnesium intake may exert positive effects through a
prebiotic influence on gut bacterial populations in turn reducing leaky
gut and lowering systemic inflammation.

*Sources:*
Pachikian BD,et al.Changes in intestinal bifidobacteria levels are
associated with the inflammatory response in magnesium-deficient mice.
J Nutr. 2010 Mar;140(3):509-14