Potassium & Magnesium Aspartate

The minerals potassium and magnesium are essential to your health. Several dietary supplements are available that combine potassium and magnesium through a special complex. The minerals are combined with the amino acid aspartate, which is a primary acid in protein-rich foods. Attaching the minerals to aspartate aids in quick absorption and expedites delivering their effects to your body. Always consult your doctor before beginning any type of supplementation regimen.

Potassium

Potassium ensures that the heart, kidneys, nerves, digestive system and muscles are functioning properly, according to the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, or ASHP. Typically, your diet provides you with enough potassium, but individuals suffering from conditions such as kidney disease or gastrointestinal disease often have low potassium levels. In such cases, supplementation is needed to prevent deficiency.

Magnesium

Magnesium is the fourth most abundant mineral in the body, notes the Office of Dietary Supplements and it is vital to more that 300 biochemical reactions in the body. About half of the magnesium in your body supports bone health while the other half exists in body tissue cells and organs. Some traces of magnesium are in the bloodstream, which your body regulates closely. According to the ODS, magnesium serves a variety of functions such as maintaining a steady heart rhythm, supporting a healthy immune system and affecting energy metabolism.

Muscle Metabolism

Potassium and magnesium aspartate are sometimes marketed as having the ability to improve physical performance. Based on a report published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information, taking the supplement does not affect force production or energy metabolism. Overall muscle performance, or the ability to complete greater physical activities over the short and long term, were not observed in either animals or humans, based on the report.

Coronary Heart Disease

Potassium and magnesium aspartate have been linked to improved conditions in patients who suffer from coronary heart disease with arrhythmia. A study conducted by the College of Preclinical Medical and Forensic Medicines at Sichuan University in China found that the dietary supplement decreased oxidative damage and reduced the amount of oxidative stress in patients with the disease. The potassium and magnesium aspartate also proved to significantly reduce premature heartbeats, according to the study's results.

Bypass Surgery

Doctors in Beijing have found that potassium and magnesium aspartate play a key role in coronary artery bypass grafting. According to a study performed by the Department of Cardiopulmonary Bypass at the Cardiovascular Institute and Fuwai Hospital, temporarily ceasing cardiac activity, a necessary step during a bypass grafting procedure, becomes a lower-risk process when the blood that is reintroduced into the body is enriched with potassium and magnesium aspartate. The study found that patients suffered less reperfusion injuries (injuries that can cause damage when blood is fed back into tissue) when taking the dietary supplement.