What is the significance of magnesium?

From the Guidelines

Magnesium is a crucial mineral that plays a significant role in various bodily functions, and its supplementation can be beneficial in certain conditions, such as constipation and erythromelalgia, with a recommended daily intake of 310-420 mg for general health maintenance. For general health maintenance, adults should aim for 310-420 mg of magnesium daily through diet or supplements, as supported by recent studies 1. Good dietary sources include dark leafy greens, nuts, seeds, whole grains, and legumes. If supplementing, magnesium glycinate, citrate, or malate are well-absorbed forms, typically taken in doses of 200-400 mg daily. For specific conditions like constipation, magnesium oxide (MgO) can provide relief, with a dosing of 1.5 g/d, although lower doses of 500 mg/d to 1 g/d are often used in clinical practice 1. However, it is essential to note that magnesium supplements should be avoided in individuals with significant renal impairment, as hypermagnesemia can occur 1. Magnesium works by facilitating energy production, protein synthesis, muscle and nerve function, blood glucose control, and blood pressure regulation, making it vital for overall health and bodily functions. In the context of erythromelalgia, magnesium has been used in both oral and intravenous formulations, with a recommended initial dose of 350 mg daily for women and 420 mg daily for men, which can be increased gradually according to tolerance 1. It is crucial to monitor for potential side effects, such as digestive upset, diarrhea, muscle weakness, flushing, hypotension, bradycardia, blurred vision, and cognitive effects, particularly with high doses or certain forms of magnesium. Overall, magnesium supplementation can be a valuable addition to treatment regimens for specific conditions, and its importance in overall health maintenance cannot be overstated. Key points to consider when supplementing with magnesium include:

• Starting with a low dose and gradually increasing as needed and tolerated
• Choosing a well-absorbed form, such as magnesium glycinate, citrate, or malate
• Taking magnesium supplements with food to improve absorption and reduce side effects
• Monitoring for potential side effects and adjusting the dose or formulation as needed.

From the FDA Drug Label

Magnesium is an important cofactor for enzymatic reactions and plays an important role in neurochemical transmission and muscular excitability. Magnesium is a vital mineral essential for energy production, enzyme activity, nerve and muscle function, cardiovascular health, and bone maintenance.

The significance of magnesium includes its role as a:

• Cofactor for enzymatic reactions
• Essential mineral for energy production
• Important factor in neurochemical transmission and muscular excitability
• Vital component for nerve and muscle function, cardiovascular health, and bone maintenance 2 3

From the Research

Significance of Magnesium

• Magnesium is an essential element needed for health, and its deficiency can have serious health consequences, such as increased risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases 4, 5.
• The serum magnesium concentration is the predominant test used to assess magnesium status in patients, but it has limited informative value as it is maintained for a long time by releasing magnesium from body pools 4, 5.
• A low serum magnesium is a definite sign of magnesium deficiency, but values within the reference range do not rule out deficiencies, highlighting the need for a standardized and evidence-based reference range for serum magnesium 5.
• Magnesium deficiency can be congenital or acquired, and it may be caused by low magnesium intake, the use of magnesium-wasting drugs, or high metabolic demands imposed by catch-up growth or postsurgical healing 6.
• Magnesium therapy is safe when a low dosage is given with monitoring of plasma or serum magnesium levels, and it is essential for maintaining normal cellular and organ function 6, 7.

Health Risks Associated with Magnesium Deficiency

• Inadequate magnesium balance is associated with various disorders, such as skeletal deformities, cardiovascular diseases, and metabolic syndrome 7.
• Magnesium deficiency is widely observed as a result of the reduced nutrient content of foods, over-cooking, diseases, drugs, alcohol, and caffeine consumption, highlighting the need for dietary supplements 8.
• The consequences of magnesium deficiency are severest in the smallest and youngest members of each species and may include sudden unexpected death 6.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Magnesium Deficiency

• The traditional method to establish a reference interval for the serum magnesium concentration is flawed, and evidence-based medicine should be used to establish the appropriate lower limit of the reference interval for health 4.
• A reference range of 0.75 to 0.95 mmol/L (1.82 to 2.31 mg/dL) can often be found, but according to the current data situation, serum magnesium values of less than 0.85 mmol/L are associated with increased health risks 5.
• Magnesium loading tests may provide more accurate reflections of total body magnesium status and thus improve identification of magnesium-deficient individuals, and prevent magnesium deficiency-related complications 7.