In a study of 4,637 young adults (ages 18 to 30) enrolled in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study, researchers found that the more magnesium a person consumed, the less likely he or she was to develop metabolic syndrome, a cluster of symptoms--increased blood pressure, elevated insulin levels, excess body fat around the waist or abnormal cholesterol levels--that contribute to one's risk of developing diabetes.