magnesium

Introduction:
It is estimated that between 7 and 8 out of ten adults in the United States do not reach the recommended daily intake for magnesium. The consequences of this reduced intake are considerable as magnesium is essential in over 300 biochemical reactions in the body and plays a key role in:

• Bone health
• Blood clotting
• Brain chemistry
• Muscle contraction
• Energy metabolism
• Immune function
• Insulin sensitivity and the body’s use of glucose
• Respiratory function
• Regulating blood pressure
• Synthesis of many body compounds

Signs and symptoms of severe magnesium deficiency include fatigue, mental confusion, irritability, weakness, heart disturbances, problems in nerve conduction and muscle contraction, muscle cramps, loss of appetite, insomnia, and a predisposition to stress.

Background Data:
One of the most important benefits of magnesium is that it is associated with lowering the risk of heart disease and strokes. Several mechanisms may explain this protective effect:

• Magnesium improves insulin sensitivity. Development of resistance to insulin is linked to not only an increased risk of type 2 diabetes and the metabolic syndrome, but also other factors linked to an increased risk for heart disease and stroke such as increased systemic inflammation and higher levels of C-reactive protein (CRP).
•  Magnesium plays a key role in regulating blood pressure. Low magnesium levels are associated with higher blood pressure.
•  Low levels of magnesium increase the risk of abnormal heart rhythms, which increases the risk of complications after a heart attack.
• Magnesium is very important to the health of the heart and arteries.

New Data:
Two recent studies provide additional evidence on the importance of higher magnesium intakes in preventing cardiovascular disease.
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