Magnesium - what is it?
Magnesium, New RDA* 375 mg.
All human tissues contain small quantities of magnesium. The adult human body contains about 25 g of this mineral, the greater part of which is present in bones in combination with phosphate and carbonate. Bone ashes contain less than one per cent magnesium. About one-fifth of the total magnesium in the body is present in the soft tissues inside the cells, where it is mainly bound to protein. The bones seem to provide a reserve supply of this mineral in case of a shortage elsewhere in the body.
Magnesium is a light, silver-white, malleable, and ductile metallic element. It burns with a very hot, bright flame and is used to form light-weight alloys. Biochemists call magnesium the 'cool, alkaline, refreshing, sleep 'promoting mineral'. It helps to keep one calm and cool during the sweltering summer months. Intake of diuretics and alcohol can render magnesium ineffective.
Magnesium is the eighth most abundant element in the earth’s crust. It does not occur as a pure metal in nature, but it is found in large deposits as magnesite, dolomite and other minerals.
*Sourced from EFSA WEBSITE
Magnesium - what does it do?
Needed for converting energy from food, cell repair, building strong bones, teeth and muscles, regulating body temperature.
Magnesium is required as a cofactor for many enzyme systems. It is required for protein synthesis and for both anaerobic and aerobic energy generation and for glycolysis, either indirectly as a part of magnesium-ATP complex, or directly as an enzyme activator. Magnesium plays a multifunctional role in cell metabolism, (particularly at the level of key phosphorylations), and has a critical role in cell division. It has been suggested that magnesium is necessary for the maintenance of an adequate supply of nucleotides for the synthesis of RNA and DNA. Magnesium regulates the movement of potassium in myocardial cells and is also known to act as a calcium channel blocker. Magnesium is an important element in the metabolism and/or action of vitamin D, and is essential for the synthesis and secretion of parathyroid hormone.
Deficiency
Magnesium deficiency has been linked to cardiovascular, skeletal, gastrointestinal and central nervous system disorders and to the use of loop diuretics. Magnesium is essential for the normal function of the parathyroid gland and for vitamin D metabolism. Magnesium depletion markedly disturbs calcium homeostasis, and hypocalcaemia is a common manifestation of moderate to severe magnesium deficiency.
Magnesium - Sources
Found widely in foods, particularly green leafy vegetables, nuts, bread, fish, and meat and dairy products.
