Magnesium and C-reactive protein levels

The Facts:
* People with a high level of C-reactive protein in their blood are more likely to suffer from inflammatory conditions.
* An American study found that people who consumed less than 50% of the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of magnesium were almost twice as likely to have elevated C-reactive protein than those who consumed more than the RDA.
* Approximately a quarter of the people surveyed took a magnesium supplement, of which 60% met the RDA compared with only 22% of people who did not take a magnesium supplement.

Shaun’s comment: CRP is a common blood test for many people in hospital, as it tells us how much inflammation is occurring in the body. In this study, those with low magnesium in their diet were more likely to have higher CRP levels and those taking a supplement were less likely to have raised CRP levels. It is not clear whether lower CRP levels result in batter health outcomes, but this is interesting research and worth seeing what future studies show.

Study reference:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nutres.2006.05.001