Green leafy vegetables, meats, starches, grains and nuts, and milk are magnesium-rich foods and eating more of these may be able to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes - according to meta-analysis of observational studies by Karolinska Institutet researchers.

"Findings from this meta-analysis of cohort studies indicate that increased intake of magnesium may reduce the incidence of type-2 diabetes. This observational evidence should be treated as compelling but not definitive.

The potential protective role of magnesium intake against type-2 diabetes may be due to improvement of insulin sensitivity. Studies in animals have demonstrated an adverse effect of magnesium deficiency on glucose-induced insulin secretion and insulin-mediated glucose uptake.

In contrast, magnesium supplementation was shown to prevent fructose-induced insulin resistance and reduce the development of diabetes in a rat model of spontaneous type-2 diabetes."

The researchers concluded that even if it is still too early to recommend magnesium supplementation but it will do harm in individuals to increase intake of magnesium-rich foods.

Study results appear in the Journal of Internal Medicine.

Find more details from the full report.