Researchers in Saudi Arabia wanted to know if eating more magnesium-rich foods could help people with type 2 diabetes lower their blood pressure. They taught 30 people with diabetes about magnesium-rich foods for 12 weeks. While the participants successfully ate more magnesium, their blood pressure didn’t improve. This suggests that simply eating more magnesium might not be enough to control blood pressure in people with diabetes, though scientists say more research is needed to fully understand what does help.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Whether teaching people with type 2 diabetes to eat more magnesium-rich foods would help lower their blood pressure
  • Who participated: 30 adults with type 2 diabetes (25 women) living in Saudi Arabia, with an average age of 56 years and overweight body types
  • Key finding: Participants increased their magnesium intake by about 82 mg per day after 12 weeks of nutrition education, but their blood pressure measurements did not improve
  • What it means for you: If you have type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, eating more magnesium alone may not be enough to control your blood pressure. You should continue working with your doctor on a complete treatment plan that may include other dietary changes, exercise, and medications if needed.

The Research Details

This was a within-subject study, which means researchers followed the same 30 people over time to see what changed. The participants came to the clinic twice—once at the beginning and once after 12 weeks. During these visits, doctors measured their blood pressure and asked about their eating habits. Between visits, the participants attended nutrition education sessions focused on teaching them about magnesium-rich foods like nuts, seeds, leafy greens, and whole grains. The researchers tracked how much magnesium people ate before and after the education program.

This type of study design is useful because it lets researchers see if changes in diet directly affect health outcomes in the same person. By measuring blood pressure before and after the intervention, they could determine whether the magnesium education actually made a difference. This approach is practical for testing nutrition interventions in real-world settings.

The study had a small sample size of only 30 people, which limits how much we can generalize the findings to larger populations. There was no control group (people who didn’t receive the education) to compare results against. The study lasted only 12 weeks, which may not be long enough to see blood pressure changes. The research was conducted in Saudi Arabia, so results may differ in other regions with different diets and healthcare systems.

What the Results Show

The nutrition education intervention was successful in increasing how much magnesium participants ate. On average, people consumed about 82 more milligrams of magnesium per day after the 12-week program. This shows that teaching people about magnesium-rich foods does help them eat more of these foods. However, despite this increase in magnesium intake, the researchers found no significant improvement in blood pressure measurements. Blood pressure readings remained essentially the same before and after the intervention. This unexpected finding suggests that simply increasing magnesium intake through diet education alone may not be enough to lower blood pressure in people with type 2 diabetes.

The study did not report other health markers or outcomes beyond blood pressure. The researchers did not measure whether increased magnesium intake affected blood sugar control, insulin sensitivity, or other cardiovascular risk factors that might be important for people with diabetes.

Previous research has suggested that magnesium plays a role in blood vessel function and may help with blood pressure control. Some studies have shown that magnesium supplements can modestly lower blood pressure in certain populations. However, this study suggests that dietary magnesium increases alone may not produce the same effect in people with type 2 diabetes, indicating that the relationship between magnesium and blood pressure control in diabetic patients is more complex than previously thought.

The study had several important limitations. First, only 30 people participated, which is a small number for drawing broad conclusions. Second, there was no comparison group of people who didn’t receive the education, making it hard to know if any changes were due to the intervention or other factors. Third, the study only lasted 12 weeks, which may be too short to see blood pressure changes. Fourth, the study didn’t measure whether participants actually stuck to eating more magnesium-rich foods after the education ended. Finally, the study didn’t account for other factors that affect blood pressure, such as salt intake, exercise, stress, or medications people were taking.

The Bottom Line

Based on this research, eating more magnesium-rich foods is still healthy and recommended as part of a balanced diet for people with diabetes, but it should not be relied upon as the primary way to lower blood pressure. People with type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure should continue following their doctor’s complete treatment plan, which typically includes medications, regular exercise, limiting salt, managing stress, and maintaining a healthy weight. Magnesium-rich foods are beneficial for overall health, but they appear to be just one piece of the puzzle.

This research is most relevant to people with type 2 diabetes who have high blood pressure and are looking for dietary ways to manage it. Healthcare providers treating diabetic patients with hypertension should consider that magnesium intake alone may not be sufficient for blood pressure control. People without diabetes or those with well-controlled blood pressure may still benefit from magnesium-rich foods for overall health, but this study doesn’t directly address their situation.

The study measured changes over 12 weeks, and no blood pressure improvements were seen during this timeframe. If you increase your magnesium intake, you should not expect to see significant blood pressure changes within weeks. Blood pressure management typically requires consistent effort over months, and improvements usually come from a combination of strategies rather than a single dietary change.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track daily magnesium intake in milligrams from food sources (nuts, seeds, leafy greens, whole grains, legumes) alongside weekly blood pressure readings to monitor whether dietary changes correlate with any health improvements over time
  • Set a goal to include one magnesium-rich food at each meal (such as almonds as a snack, spinach in lunch, or brown rice at dinner) while continuing to monitor blood pressure weekly and work with your healthcare provider on other blood pressure management strategies
  • Maintain a 12-week food and blood pressure log to identify patterns, then share results with your doctor to determine if additional interventions (medication adjustments, exercise increases, or other dietary changes) are needed for better blood pressure control

This research suggests that increasing dietary magnesium alone may not significantly lower blood pressure in people with type 2 diabetes. However, this study was small and had limitations. If you have type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, do not change your treatment plan based on this single study. Always consult with your doctor or healthcare provider before making significant changes to your diet or medications. Blood pressure management typically requires a comprehensive approach including medication, exercise, diet, and lifestyle changes. This information is for educational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice.