Magnesium is a mineral that has gained popularity thanks to its efficacy when it comes to treating muscle aches and pains. So, we are going to clarify the importance of magnesium in our health
It is one of the most abundant minerals in plants and animals and plays an essential role in a large number of cellular reactions. The adult body contains approximately 24 grams of magnesium, widely distributed:
- 60 – 65% in the bones
- 27% in the muscle
- 6 -7% in other cells
- 1% in the extracellular fluid
The function of Magnesium
As we said, its functions go far beyond contractures, these are the main and most important ones:
- Repolarization of muscle fibers: magnesium is essential for the functioning of tissues, especially muscle tissue, and therefore, it is important to assess the function of muscle and heart tissue.
- Synthesis and use of energy-rich compounds: magnesium is bound, in large part, to ATP molecules (the body’s energy source) and plays an essential role in the pathway of oxidative phosphorylation (one of the main energy production pathways), leading to a synthesis of links rich in energy.
- Structural, in bones and teeth, together with calcium: magnesium also acts in synergy with calcium, taking it regularly, maintains calcium levels in bones.
- Cofactor in more than 300 enzymes of the organism: when magnesium binds to the ATP it activates the substrate of ATPase, thus participating as a cofactor of some enzymes that act in the metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids and proteins, among others.
- What happens when there is a deficit? Magnesium deficiency produces a large number of neurological, cardiovascular, renal, gastrointestinal and muscular disorders. There are studies that show that magnesium intake is below the recommended daily intakes, by about 30%. Between 15 and 20% of the population has a chronic magnesium deficiency. Magnesium deficiency can be caused by unbalanced diets, stress, intestinal alterations and certain medications.
Conditions derived from the lack of magnesium
- Neuromuscular disorders: these types of alterations are the main conditions due to magnesium deficiency. They could manifest as:
- Contractures (the most well-known condition throughout the world).
- Paresthesia: an abnormal dermal sensation e.g., a tingling, pricking, chilling, burning, or numb sensation on the skin.
- Neuromuscular hyper excitability, which affects the entire nervous system
- Oxidative stress induced by inflammation
- Chronic inflammation plays an important role in the aetiology of many diseases, to be more precise, recent research supports the relationship between dietary factors and inflammation, in particular, in terms of magnesium deficiency.
- This can cause an increase in oxidative stress as a cause of inflammation or other factors such as interrupted sleep or, more drastically, the deprivation of this.
Other alterations
Inadequate intake of magnesium can also be associated with:
- Cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and hypertension
- States of anxiety, migraines and cerebral infarction
- Osteoporosis
Why does it have to be an effective magnesium?
As in everything, there are many types of magnesium and, in addition, it can be of different quality, which will determine its efficacy. In order to be really good for the organism and to have the desired effect, it is important that it is bio available, meaning that it is absorbed properly.
It would be best to choose a natural food supplement with 6 magnesium salts to achieve greater availability and optimal assimilation by the body.
To round it off, it is good to combine it with other ingredients such as vitamin B6 (essential in the metabolism of magnesium) or taurine (helps reduce magnesium losses at the kidney level) to ensure its efficacy.
