Magnesium As Novel Tool To Decrease Cardiovascular Complications In Chronic Kidney Disease

In this thesis, we hypothesize that a relatively low magnesium is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease in people with CKD and that magnesium ameliorates the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease and is a modifiable target in people with CKD. First, we analyze the association of plasma magnesium concentration with clinically relevant (cardiovascular) endpoints in CKD, in a systematic review and meta-analysis of longitudinal observational studies in people with CKD. Second, we investigate whether magnesium supplementation can decrease the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease, especially vascular calcification, in the context of CKD, in an animal model of CKD with either a high or normal magnesium diet. Third, we investigate which plasma magnesium concentrations people treated with hemodialysis have and how these are affected by the hemodialysis therapy. Lastly, we set up a trial that investigates how magnesium can be safely increased to optimal levels in people treated with hemodialysis.