This study was carried out to determine the effects of magnesium and vitamin E co-supplementation on wound healing and metabolic status in patients with diabetic foot ulcer (DFU). The current randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted among 57 patients with grade 3 DFU. Participants were randomly divided into two groups to take either 250 mg magnesium oxide plus 400 IU vitamin E (n = 29) or placebo per day (n = 28) for 12 weeks. Compared with the placebo, taking magnesium plus vitamin E supplements reduced ulcer length (β [difference in the mean of outcomes measures between treatment groups] -0.56 cm; 95% CI, -0.92, -0.20; p = 0.003), width (β -0.35 cm; 95% CI, -0.64, -0.05; p = 0.02) and depth (β -0.18 cm; 95% CI, -0.33, -0.02; p = 0.02). In addition, co-supplementation led to a significant reduction in fasting plasma glucose (β -13.41 mg/dL; 95% CI, -20.96, -5.86; p = 0.001), insulin (β -1.45 μIU/ml; 95% CI, -2.37, -0.52; p = 0.003), insulin resistance (β -0.60; 95% CI, -0.99, -0.20; p = 0.003) and HbA1c (β -0.32%; 95% CI, -0.48, -0.16; p < 0.003), and a significant elevation in insulin sensitivity (β 0.007; 95% CI, 0.003, 0.01; p < 0.001) compared with the placebo. Additionally, compared with the placebo, taking magnesium plus vitamin E supplements decreased triglycerides (β -10.08 mg/dL; 95% CI, -19.70, -0.46; p = 0.04), LDL-cholesterol (β -5.88 mg/dL; 95% CI, -11.42, -0.34; p = 0.03), high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) (β -3.42 mg/L; 95% CI, -4.44, -2.41; p < 0.001) and malondialdehyde (MDA) (β -0.30 μmol/L; 95% CI, -0.45, -0.15; p < 0.001), and increased HDL-cholesterol (β 2.62 mg/dL; 95% CI, 0.60, 4.63; p = 0.01) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) levels (β 53.61 mmol/L; 95% CI, 4.65, 102.57; p = 0.03). Overall, magnesium and vitamin E co-supplementation for 12 weeks to patients with DFU had beneficial effects on ulcer size, glycemic control, triglycerides, LDL- and HDL-cholesterol, hs-CRP, TAC, and MDA levels.
© 2019 by the Wound Healing Society.