Is Magnesium Part of the Answer to Diabetic Retinopathy?

80% of diabetics are affected by diabetic retinopathy. New research suggests that low levels of magnesium could be an important contributor to this important problem.

Diabetic retinopathy is one of the leading causes of preventable blindness. This new meta-analysis gives an important clue for how to prevent it.

This meta-analysis of studies on magnesium and diabetic retinopathy included 17 studies of 1100 diabetics with diabetic retinopathy and 1132 diabetics without diabetic retinopathy.

The important finding was that those with diabetic retinopathy had significantly lower levels of magnesium.

How big a finding could this be? The difference between the two groups was about 0.3 mg/dL of magnesium. Previous research has found that each 0.243 mg/dL increase in magnesium is associated with a 20% reduction in the risk of diabetic retinopathy, suggesting the potentially exciting clinical relevance of magnesium.

This new study reveals a significant association between magnesium levels and diabetic retinopathy and recommends that doctors and ophthalmologists “consider assessing and correcting magnesium levels in patients with diabetes.”

Nutrients. 2026 Apr 6;18(7):1162.

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For much more on treating diabetic retinopathy naturally, see our book The Family Naturopathic Encyclopedia.

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