Are low magnesium levels in type 1 diabetes associated with electromyographical signs of polyneuropathy?

Objective: Our aim was to study the relationship between the magnesium stat us in type 1 diabetic patients and disturbances in nerve conduction velocit y. Furthermore we wanted to investigate whether repletion of magnesium depl etion could improve the decreased nerve conduction velocity measurements. I n a cross-sectional study, 154 type 1 diabetic patients were screened for t heir erythrocyte magnesium content and an electrophysiological measurement of the peripheral nervous system was carried out. In a subsequent intervent ion study, out of this screened population, 23 type 1 patients, with distur bed nerve conduction velocity measurements and low erythrocyte magnesium le vels (< 2.3mmol/L) were given oral magnesium supplements, during 1 year. Tw enty type 1 patients with identical characteristics served as controls. In the cross-sectional study disturbed nerve conduction velocities were found in the older patients, in patients with a longer duration of diabetes and a morse metabolic control. EMG polyneuropathy signs were significantly more frequent in diabetic patients with low erythrocyte Mg. The intervention stu dy demonstrated that under unchanged metabolic control, supplementation wit h magnesium could improve nerve conduction, especially in younger patients with a shorter duration of diabetes. Erythrocyte Mg was lower in type 1 dia betic patients with polyneuropathy. Mg supplementation increasing Mg RBC mi ght (possibly?) improve nerve conduction measured by electromyography at le ast in younger patients with a short duration of diabetes and presenting ea rly signs of the neurological complication.