Magnesium, an element required for many body functions, is the fourth most abundant mineral in the body, according to the Office of Dietary Supplements from the National Institutes of Health. It is required for more than 300 different biochemical reactions in the body and helps to maintain normal muscle and nerve function. Magnesium oxide is available as a supplement without a prescription. Consult your primary care physician, however, to ensure that it does not interfere with any other medications you are taking or any underlying medical condition.
What Happens in the Muscles
Magnesium is important in the development of cell membranes and is a required element in the transport of potassium and calcium across those cell membranes, according to Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University. While magnesium does not play a direct role in the contraction and relaxation of muscle, it is responsible for the delivery of potassium and calcium, which are directly responsible for the conduction of nerve impulses, muscle contraction and the normal rhythm of your heart.
Magnesium Deficiency
A magnesium deficiency is very rare in healthy people who eat a balanced diet because it is found in abundance in both plants and animals foods. However, there are physical conditions that increase the risk of magnesium deficiency, according to Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University. Prolonged diarrhea, surgical removal of a portion of the intestines, intestinal inflammation secondary to radiation, Crohn's disease and celiac disease can all lead to magnesium depletion in the body. Magnesium can also be lost by the kidneys during illnesses such as diabetes mellitus or from the long-term use of certain diuretics. Individuals who suffer from chronic alcoholism and the elderly, who have a low dietary intake, can exhibit magnesium deficiencies.
Sources and Supplementation
Green vegetables are good source of magnesium because the compound that gives the vegetable their color, chlorophyll, contains magnesium, according to the Office of Dietary Supplements. Other good sources of magnesium include beans, peas, nuts and seeds and whole unrefined grains. A 3-oz. serving of halibut contains 20 percent of the daily value of magnesium that a person eating a 2,000 calorie diet requires. Twenty percent of daily value is also found in 1 oz. of almonds or cashews and 1/2 cup of soybeans or spinach. Supplementation is used for individuals who suffer from deficiency, according to MayoClinic.com. It is available as an oral preparation with or without a prescription, or as an injection given under the supervision of a health care professional.
Possible Interactions
While there are no interactions with magnesium acquired through diet, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, supplementation can result in interactions with antibiotics, blood pressure medication, diabetic medications, digoxin, diuretics, hormone replacement, thyroid medication and medications used to treat osteoporosis. Magnesium can reduce the absorption of some antibiotics, increase the likelihood of negative side effects from blood pressure medication, increase the absorption of some diabetic medications and reduce the effectiveness or increase the likelihood of adverse side effects of diuretics and hormone replacement thyroid medication. Do not take magnesium supplementation without consulting your primary care physician.
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