MAGNESIUM
Product No. P13021
Magnesium (Mg) is a trace mineral that is required for several hundred different biochemical reactions in the body, and is needed by every cell. Half of the magnesium stores are found inside cells of body tissues and organs, and half are combined with calcium and phosphorus in the bone - a tiny amount is found in the blood, which the body works very hard to keep at a constant level.
The magnesium content of refined foods is usually low. Water can provide magnesium, but the amount varies according to the water supply (‘hard’ water contains more magnesium than ‘soft’ water). Green vegetables such as spinach and cabbage provide magnesium because the centre of the chlorophyll molecule contains it. Nuts, seeds, and some whole grains are also good sources, but although magnesium is present in many foods, it usually occurs in small amounts, and daily needs can only be met by eating a wide variety of foods. The Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences has established an upper intake level (UL) for supplementary magnesium for adolescents and adults at 350 mg daily.
A lack of this important nutrient may be a major factor in many common health problems in industrialised countries. Common conditions such as migraines, attention deficit disorder, fibromyalgia, asthma and allergies have all been linked to a magnesium deficiency.
Magnesium supplementation is usually necessary for specific health problems or conditions that cause an excessive loss of magnesium. Extra magnesium may be required by individuals with conditions that cause urinary loss of magnesium, such as chronic malabsorption, severe diarrhoea and chronic or severe vomiting. Poorly controlled diabetes increases loss of magnesium in urine and may constitute magnesium supplementation. People who abuse alcohol are also at high risk for magnesium deficiency because alcohol increases urinary excretion of magnesium. Low blood levels of magnesium occur in 30 - 60% of alcoholics, and in nearly 90% of patients experiencing alcohol withdrawal.
Magnesium helps maintain normal muscle and nerve function, keeps bones strong, the heart rhythm steady, and assists in energy metabolism and protein synthesis. Evidence suggests that it plays an important role in regulating blood pressure, and that a diet high in magnesium, potassium, and calcium, and low in sodium and fat can significantly lower blood pressure, and the risk of hypertension.
Magnesium deficiency can cause metabolic changes that may contribute to heart attacks and strokes. There is evidence that low body stores of magnesium increase the risk of abnormal heart rhythms, which can in turn increase the risk of complications associated with the heart. Several surveys have shown higher blood levels of magnesium correspond with a lower risk of coronary heart disease and stroke.
Research suggests that magnesium deficiency may be a risk factor for postmenopausal osteoporosis due to the fact that it alters calcium metabolism and the hormone that regulates calcium. Studies have suggested that magnesium supplementation may improve bone mineral density, but researchers believe that further investigation on the role of magnesium in bone metabolism and osteoporosis is needed.
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