Cardiovascular Diseases in Obesity: What is the Role of Magnesium?

An excess of adipose tissue, a characteristic of obesity, has been associated with endocrine-metabolic alterations that contribute to dyslipidemias, which are characterized by an increase in the plasma concentrations of triacylglycerols, total cholesterol, and LDL-c along with a reduction in HDL-c. Some nutrients such as the mineral magnesium play important roles in lipid metabolism. Magnesium regulates the activity of HMG-CoA reductase, increasing the activity of lipoprotein lipase and lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase. The objective of this review is to present important aspects about the contribution of obesity to the manifestation of cardiovascular risk, to bring the main physiological functions of magnesium, as well as the role of the nutrient in the protection against cardiovascular diseases. Studies have shown that individuals with obesity have low intracellular concentrations of magnesium, which can compromise the nutrient's physiological functions. Thus, this mineral appears to play an important role in protecting against cardiovascular diseases; however, changes in the nutrient metabolism in obesity may compromise the functions of this element. Further studies are needed to clarify this.