Benefits of Magnesium: Overall Health
Magnesium is an essential mineral needed by every cell in your body. Magnesium helps maintain normal muscle and nerve function, helps keep heart rhythm steady, helps maintain normal blood pressure and bone strength, and aids in the absorption of calcium and potassium*.
Most Americans don't get enough magnesium in their diets. Add to that a magnesium-depleting prescription drug or health condition that is associated with a magnesium deficiency — and serious health complications may arise.
Magnesium can help the body absorb other important supplements, such as calcium and potassium. It is important to realize that multivitamins provide only a fraction of the RDA for magnesium, which is why an additional magnesium supplement may be critical to maintain adequate magnesium levels for those experiencing a deficiency. Renal failure patients and pregnant women should seek the advice of a healthcare professional before starting magnesium supplementation.
Magnesium and Pain Management
Magnesium helps to maintain normal muscle and nerve function. Muscle contractions, leg cramps,
and migraines may be symptoms of a magnesium deficiency. Studies have shown that magnesium
helps to reduce the severity and duration of both leg cramps and migraines1-2. These conditions, when related to a magnesium deficiency, can often be managed with 400-800 mg of supplemental magnesium daily.
Magnesium and Women's health
Magnesium is essential to women's health and may be beneficial for premenstrual syndrome (PMS), pregnancy, osteoporosis, and symptoms of menopause3.
Magnesium is also involved with maintaining and building strong bones. Magnesium is essential
for normal bone metabolism. It is important to have a 2:1 ratio of calcium to magnesium
(i.e. for every 800mg of calcium, one should take 400mg of magnesium)4.
A magnesium deficiency may be a risk factor for postmenopausal osteoporosis5.
This may be due to the fact that a magnesium deficiency alters calcium metabolism and the hormone that regulates calcium6. Maintaining optimal levels of magnesium is important for women of all age groups.
If you have a question about what has been reported concerning magnesium in one of these areas, please
submit your question.
1 Roffe ,Sills S, Crome P, Jones P. Randomized, cross-over, placebo controlled trial of magnesium citrate in the treatment of chronic persistent leg cramps. Med Sci Monit. 2002 May; 8(5): CR326-30.
2 Fong W, Van Den Eeden SK, Ackerson LM, Slak SE, Reince RH, Elin RJ. Oral magnesium oxide prophylaxis of frequent migrainous headache in children: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Headache. 2003 Jun; 43(6): 601-10.
3 Seelig M. Interrelationship of magnesium and estrogen in cardiovascular and bone disorders, eclampsia, migraine and premenstrual syndrome. J Am Coll Nutr. 1993 Aug; 12(4): 442-58.
4 Seeling, Mildred S, and Andrea Rosanoff. The Magnesium Factor. New York, NY: Avery, 2003.
5 National Institutes of Health. Food and Nutrition Board. Dietary Reference Intakes: Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Vitamin D and Fluoride. National Academy Press. Washington, DC, 1999.
6 Rude RK and Olerich M. Magnesium deficiency: Possible role in osteoporosis associated with gluten-sensitive enteropathy. Osteoporosis Int 1996; 6:453-61.
7 Carper J. Mighty Magnesium. This overlooked nutrient fights against heart disease, pain and diabetes. USA Weekend. August 30-Septemeber 1, 2002.