Shagufta Zafar Qureshi, Zaheer Ahmed, Inam-ul Haq Khan.
Effect of dietary calcium and magnesium on occurrence of CAD: analysis in community of Islamabad.
Pak Heart J Jan ;48(3):134-42.

Objectives: To investigate potential association between serum and dietary Ca and Mg levels, with different risk factors and occurrence of CAD. Methodology: It was a hospital based, case control study, conducted in Cardiology Department of Federal Government Polyclinic Hospital, Islamabad from 1st March 2013 to 30th September 2013. Study subjects were given specially designed FFQs and asked to bring drinking water samples for mineral analysis. Serum Ca and Mg levels were checked and daily intake of minerals was calculated, using USDA food composition table. Analysis was done using SPSS version 11. All participants were included after formal informed consent. Results: A total of 600 individuals were studied, 280 cases of CAD and 320 with no history of CAD constituted the control group. About 69 % of cases and 53% of controls had low dietary Mg intake, indicating an association between Mg intake and occurrence of CAD (p = 0.000), where Ca levels showed none (p > 0.05).Hypertension, diabetes and hyperlipidemia showed better correlation with CAD (p=0.000), smoking had relatively weak association (p=0.049). Low dietary Mg showed association with hypertension, diabetes and smoking (p<0.05). Ca levels in drinking water ranging between 04 - 22mg /L, but at places, levels were as high as 160 mg /L, where Mg levels ranged between 8-22 mg/L, did not show marked variation. Fisher's test was applied for statistical inference ; F value for serum and dietary Mg levels were 34.61 and 38.57 respectively, with p value of 0.000. Conclusion: Low dietary Mg may have a contributing role towards development of CAD.

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