Is Hypomagnesemia a Risk Factor for Atherogenic Dyslipidemia in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease?

Objective: Atherosclerosis, which starts from early stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD), is an important cause for increased morbidity and mortality. We aimed to investigate whether hypomagnesemia is a marker of increased atherogenic dyslipidemia in patients with CKD with a glomerular filtration rate (GFR) <60 mL/min/1.73 sq m.
Material and Methods: In our study, a total of 80 patients who did not receive renal replacement therapy with GFR <60 mL/min/1.73 sq m, who were diagnosed with CKD and abided by the study entry criteria were retrospectively studied. Patients’ gender, age, presence of comorbid disease(d), medications being used, and laboratory findings were recorded. Urea, creatinine, serum electrolytes [calcium, phosphorus, magnesium (Mg)], uric acid, fasting blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, albuminuria/creatinine in spot urine, creatinine clearance, and lipid profile levels were examined.
Results: A total of 36 (45%) male and 44 (55%) female patients were included in the study. The average age was 62.79±14.08 years. Diabetes mellitus was present in 32 (40%) patients, hypertension in 53 (66.25%) patients, and hyperlipidemia in 14 (17.50%) patients. The mean Mg value of our patients was 1.83±0.35. Average for lipid levels were total cholesterol (174.59±57), triglycerides (TG) (173.59±86.85), low-density lipoprotein-C (102.42±43.61), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (38.68±12.28), non-HDL-C (134.75±49.72), TG/HDL-C (4.93±3.09), and atherogenic index in plasma (0.61±0.28). Patients were divided into two groups according to their Mg levels. Patients whose Mg levels were <1.7 mg/dL were in group A, and patients whose Mg levels were ≥1.7 mg/dL in group B. When the parameters were compared between the groups, the difference between the two groups was not statistically significant (p>0.05).
Conclusion: In this study conducted in patients with CKD, there was no relationship between Mg levels and lipid parameters. There is a need for larger, more comprehensive, prospective studies on this issue.