Why We Need Magnesium Chloride For Health

Magnesium, the fourth most abundant mineral in your body, supports over 300 chemical reactions, builds strong bones, promotes muscle and nerve function, regulates blood pressure and keeps your heart beating. A well-balanced diet full of green vegetables, nuts and beans provides the magnesium you need for health. For those with a magnesium deficiency due to kidney disease, the use of certain medications or malabsorption disorders, they can take magnesium chloride supplements to meet the daily recommended intake of 420 mg per day for men and 320 mg per day for women as set by the Institute of Medicine. Before taking magnesium chloride supplements, consult your doctor.

Osteoporosis

The National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements reports that approximately 50 percent of all the magnesium in your body resides in your bones. Similar to calcium, your body deposits magnesium molecules in the bone to add strength to the bone structure. In addition, magnesium affects how your body absorbs and utilizes calcium, and a low level of magnesium can cause a reduction in the amount of calcium in the blood. Since calcium also plays a vital role in heart function, an inadequate amount of calcium in the blood signals your bones to release calcium. This leads to thin and weak bones -- a condition known as osteoporosis. Increasing your magnesium intake, such as by taking magnesium chloride supplements, may help increase your bone density, making bones healthy and strong.

Diabetes

When you consume food, your body must break down the food molecules into usable energy known as glucose. Magnesium plays a role in the breakdown of carbohydrates into glucose. Glucose travels through the blood to provide energy to the cells. The cells need a hormone known as insulin to take in and use the glucose. Magnesium may influence the release and activity of the insulin. A study published in "Diabetes Care" found that magnesium shares an inverse relationship with diabetes risk. This means that low magnesium levels increase your risk for diabetes, while a high magnesium level lowers your risk. Taking magnesium chloride supplements may help lower your risk for diabetes.

Heart Function

Magnesium plays a vital role in maintaining a rhythmic and healthy heartbeat. Heart muscle cells contain calcium ions in the internal chambers of the cell, known as the sarcoplasmic reticulum, and magnesium ions in the fluid portion of the cell. When the nerve impulse created by the sinus node -- the specialized group of cells that creates the electrical impulses in the heart -- stimulates the heart muscle cells, the sarcoplasmic reticulum releases calcium ions. This action causes the cell to contract. When the calcium ions enter the fluid portion of the cell, the electrical charge of the magnesium ions propels the calcium back into the chamber, which allows the heart muscle cells to relax. A magnesium deficiency causes abnormal heart rhythms, but taking magnesium chloride supplements promotes heart health.

Blood Pressure

As an electrolyte -- meaning a molecule that transmits the tiny electrical impulses sent by nerves -- magnesium works with sodium and potassium to regulate blood pressure. The Linus Pauling Institute reports that although there is a relationship between magnesium and your blood pressure, the magnitude of the effects is difficult to determine. Foods high in magnesium also contain potassium, making it difficult to quantify the effects. One study published in the "Annals of Epidemiology" concludes that a low magnesium level can play a modest role in developing hypertension. Taking magnesium chloride supplements not only helps keep your heart healthy but may also treat or prevent hypertension. Because magnesium chloride supplements may interfere with other medications or cause unwanted side effects, consult your doctor before you begin taking them.