Magnesium is a mineral that assists numerous functions in the body, including muscle contraction, immunity and regulation of the heartbeat. This mineral may be found in a variety of foods, including nuts, spinach, beans and milk. According to the Dietary Reference Intake, an adult male between the ages 19 and 30 should consume 330 mg of magnesium daily; women between the ages 19 and 30 should consume 255 mg per day. Conditions such as Crohn's disease, uncontrolled type 2 diabetes and alcoholism may affect magnesium absorption, leading to a deficiency. Magnesium deficiency may also be induced by drug interactions.
Heart
A blood pressure reading of over 140/90 mmHg is classified as hypertension, or high blood pressure. An article by John G. Gums published in the "American Journal of Health System Pharmacy" in 2004 explains that magnesium deficiency is associated with diseases such as diabetes and obesity, which can lead to hypertension. It also states that cardiac arrhythmias are linked to magnesium deficiency. Low levels of magnesium may alter the electrical stability of the atrial and ventricular myocardium, resulting in an atrial or ventricular arrhythmia.
Increased Blood Glucose
Diabetes is the result of the pancreas' inability to produce enough or efficient insulin, a hormone necessary for glucose absorption. A 10-year followup study conducted by F. Guerrero-Romero, et al., from the Multidisciplinary Research Group on Diabetes of the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social and published in 2008 in the "European Journal of Clinical Investigation" establishes a link between type 2 diabetes and hypomagnesemia. A total of 1,122 individuals were enrolled and followed for 10 years to determine an association between magnesium deficiency and type 2 diabetes, impaired fasting glucose and impaired glucose tolerance. Concluding the study, 51.4 percent of the individuals had hypomagnesemia, and 53.6 percent had exhibited metabolic glucose disorders. Individuals with hypomagnesemia showed a higher percentage of high blood glucose and insulin resistance.
An article by Stella Lucia Volpe, PhD, RD, from the University of Pennsylvania published in the "Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition journal" in 2008 explains that intracellular magnesium deficiency influences the development of insulin resistance and alters glucose absorption in the cell
Bone Health
Magnesium may impact bone health. A deficiency may alter calcium metabolism and the hormones responsible for its regulation, resulting in a risk of postmenopausal osteoporosis, according to the National Institute of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.
Brain Function, Blood and Serum Lipids
Fatigue, insomnia, irritability, poor memory, insomnia, numbness and hallucinations may also result from magnesium deficiency. Low magnesium levels may also promote blood clotting and increased serum lipid levels.
References
- National Institute of Health Office of Dietary Supplements: Magnesium
- Medline Plus: Magnesium
- "American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy"; Magnesium in Cardiovascular and Other Disorders; John G. Gums; August 2004
- "European Journal of Clinical Investigation"; Hypomagnesemia and Risk for Metabolic Glucose Disorders: A 10 Year Follow-up Study; F. Guerrero-Romero, R. A. Rascón-Pacheco, M. Rodríguez-Morán, J. Escobedo de la Peña, and N. Wacher; June 2008
- "Critical Reviews in Food Science & Nutrition"; Magnesium, the Metabolic Syndrome, Insulin Resistance and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus; Stella Lucia Volpe; March 2008
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