• Yueh-Feng Chiang, Hsuan-Ying Chen, I-Te Lee, Li-Sheng Chien, Jui-Hua Huang, Martin Kolisek, Fu-Chou Cheng, and Sen-Wei Tsai.
• Department of Orthopedics, Taichung Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC.
• J Chin Med Assoc. 2019 Jun 1; 82 (6): 495-499.

BackgroundExercise is an effective therapy for the management of diabetes because it helps regulate glucose and magnesium homeostasis. Nevertheless, the mechanisms by which exercise exerts effects on magnesium transport remain unclear. This study investigated the expression of genes encoding magnesium transporters (GMTs) after a three-month exercise program in diabetic patients.MethodsThis study was conducted with a within-subject pre-post design. A total of 15 adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) were recruited and underwent a three-month indoor bicycle exercise program. The expression of five GMTs (CNNM2, TRPM6, TRPM7, SLC41A1, and SLC41A3) was determined in blood samples. Relevant anthropometric values and biochemical parameters were also determined.ResultsAlthough the body weight and body mass index decreased after three months exercise, there were no significant differences. Fasting blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), waist circumference, and magnesium levels decreased after the exercise program (p < 0.05). The expression of SLC41A1 and SLC41A3 were downregulated after exercise, but only CNNM2, TRPM6, and TRPM7 showed significantly decreased expression levels compared with those before the exercise program (p < 0.05).ConclusionThe three-month exercise program ameliorated blood glucose levels and downregulated the expression of magnesium-responsive genes in patients with T2DM.

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