Reduced intraplatelet magnesium concentrations in elderly patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM).

Intraplatelet magnesium concentrations were evaluated in 50 non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) patients divided into two groups of 25 each (<60 or >65 years) and in a control group of 30 healthy subjects, divided into two age-matched subgroups of 15 each. In all patients magnesium concentrations were assayed in plasma, erythrocytes and platelets by means of direct current plasma spectrometry. Plasma, erythrocyte and platelet magnesium levels in healthy elderly subjects were found to be comparable to those in the group of younger healthy subjects, whereas plasma, erythrocyte and platelet magnesium levels in diabetics were lower than in controls. The reduction in intraplatelet magnesium concentrations found in elderly diabetics was greater than in the younger diabetics. In diabetics, moreover, an inverse correlation was found between platelet magnesium and age, but not between plasma or erythrocyte magnesium and age. Our findings show that aging can influence the alterations in the metabolism and compartmentalization of magnesium determined by type 2 diabetes mellitus. This condition may underlie platelet function alterations which, in turn, can exacerbate vascular complications from diabetes.