Magnesium possesses an anti-atherosclerotic effect, which is mediated partly via its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties; conversely, by inhibiting endothelial proliferation, upregulating plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, magnesium deficiency promotes endothelial dysfunction [17, 18]. Here, VCAM1 is linked to endothelial dysfunction.