Role of Magnesium in the Regulation of Hepatic Glucose Homeostasis

The liver comprises of hepatocytes, biliary epithelial cells, stellate cells (or Ito cells), Kupffer cells, sinusoid endothelial cells, and pit cells [1,2]. Most of the clinically quantifiable liver functions such as metabolic processes and protein synthesis take place within the hepatocytes, while non-hepatocyte cells are responsible for other functions including inflammatory response (Kupffer cells), collagen deposition (Ito cells), and cell orientation [2-5]. Regulation of blood glucose is one of the main functions exerted by the liver. The organ contains a dynamic storage of glycogen that is rapidly dismissed into the circulation as glucose to maintain glycemia and support brain functions. Hence, hepatocytes are enzymatically specialized to switch rapidly between glycogenolysis and glycogenosynthesis based upon hormonal stimuli and metabolic conditions.