Oral magnesium supplementation modulates hepatic and intestinal expression of some carbohydrate metabolizing genes in type 2 diabetic rats

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a common and prevalent metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia and abnormal lipid and protein.1 It is one of the five leading causes death in the world affecting both developed and developing countries alike. It was projected that about 300 million people will have the disease by the year 2025.2 According to,3 the main indication of diabetes mellitus is the hyperglycemia in blood which is due to inappropriate pancreatic insulin secretion or low insulin-directed fostering of glucose by target cells. Diabetes mellitus is divided into several categories but the two major types are type 1 and type 2. Type 1 known as Insulindependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) is autoimmune disorder caused by auto aggressive T-lymphocytes that infiltrate the pancreas and destroy insulin producing β-cells leading to hypoinsulinemia and thus hyperglycemia.4,5 Type 2 is known as non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). It is characterized by insulin resistance in insulintargeting tissues, mainly the liver, skeletal muscle, and adipocytes.6