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Low Magnesium and Disease
Low magnesium and disease? What is the relationship? I am a long-term survivor of an incurable blood cancer called multiple myeloma. Toxic therapies such as chemo and radiation caused a host of short, long-term and late stage side effects. In order to manage my many health challenges, I began supplementing with several nutritional supplements.
Magnesium distinguished itself early on. In fact, I have read dozens of studies documenting hundreds of systems in the human body that depend on magnesium. According to research almost 15% of the popululation is magnesium deficient.
What are the most important bodily functions that involve magnesium?
1. Energy Production
- Magnesium plays a critical role in converting food into energy. It acts as a cofactor for enzymes involved in the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the primary energy carrier in cells.
2. Protein Synthesis
- Magnesium is required for the synthesis of proteins, which are essential for the structure, function, and regulation of the body’s tissues and organs.
3. Muscle Function
- Magnesium helps regulate muscle contractions by controlling the balance of calcium, which is directly involved in muscle contraction. It is also essential for muscle relaxation after contraction.
4. Nervous System Regulation
- Magnesium plays a key role in the transmission of nerve impulses by acting as a gatekeeper for NMDA receptors, which are involved in synaptic plasticity and memory function. It also helps in regulating neurotransmitters, which send signals throughout the nervous system.
5. Bone Health
- Approximately 60% of the body’s magnesium is found in the bones. Magnesium is crucial for bone formation and helps in regulating calcium levels, which are essential for maintaining bone density and preventing osteoporosis.
6. Blood Glucose Control
- Magnesium is involved in the metabolism of carbohydrates and influences the release of insulin, helping to regulate blood glucose levels.
7. Cardiovascular Function
- Magnesium is important for maintaining a healthy heart. It helps regulate heart rhythm and supports proper function of the muscles in the heart and blood vessels. It also assists in maintaining normal blood pressure.
8. DNA and RNA Synthesis
- Magnesium is necessary for the synthesis of DNA and RNA, the genetic materials that guide the production of proteins and the replication of cells.
9. Electrolyte Balance
- Magnesium helps regulate the balance of electrolytes in the body, such as potassium, calcium, and sodium, which are crucial for proper cellular function, fluid balance, and nerve transmission.
10. Antioxidant Production
- Magnesium is involved in the production of glutathione, one of the body’s most important antioxidants, which protects cells from oxidative damage.
man hand holding his nutritional supplemets, healthy lifestyle background.
While magnesium is contained in many of the foods we eat, I supplement with magnesium to insure that I get enough magnesium daily.
If you would like to learn more about nutritional supplementation email me at David.PeopleBeatingCancer@gmail.com
Thank you,
David Emerson
- Cancer Survivor
- Cancer Coach
- Director PeopleBeatingCancer
Low magnesium in conjunction with high homocysteine increases DNA damage in healthy middle aged Australians
“Magnesium is one of the most common elements in the human body and plays an important role as a cofactor of enzymes required for DNA replication and repair and many other biochemical mechanisms including sensing and regulating one-carbon metabolism deficiencies.
Low intake of magnesium can increase the risk of many diseases, in particular, chronic degenerative disorders. However, its role in prevention of DNA damage has not been studied fully in humans so far. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that magnesium deficiency either on its own or in conjunction with high homocysteine (Hcy) induces DNA damage in vivo in humans…
Results
Data showed that magnesium and Hcy are significantly inversely correlated with each other (r = − 0.299, p < 0.0001). Furthermore, magnesium is positively correlated both with folate (p = 0.002) and vitamin B12 (p = 0.007). Magnesium is also significantly inversely correlated with MN (p < 0.0001) and NPB (p < 0.0001). Individuals with low magnesium and high Hcy exhibited significantly higher frequency of MN and NPBs compared to those with high magnesium and low Hcy (p < 0.0001). Furthermore, there was an interactive effect between these two factors as well in inducing MN (p = 0.01) and NPB (p = 0.048)…
The results obtained in the present study indicate for the first time that low in vivo levels of magnesium either on its own or in the presence of high Hcy increases DNA damage as evident by higher frequencies of MN and NPBs…
Conclusions
Finally, it can be concluded that low levels of magnesium can have adverse cellular impact by increasing DNA damage rate. Furthermore, low magnesium interacts with high Hcy to increase MN and NPBs which can increase the risk of age-related diseases such as
- neurodegenerative diseases,
- chronic diseases,
- cancers
- and accelerated aging.
In conclusion, the results obtained from our study indicate that optimal intake of micronutrients such as magnesium and B vitamins that can lower Hcy concentration is essential for maintaining genome integrity for healthy ageing.
Also, more research is required to determine the optimal dietary intake of magnesium to achieve consistently adequate cellular concentration of magnesium for maintenance of genomic integrity.
Furthermore, magnesium dietary requirement may need to consider the homocysteine status of the subjects. Our results support the hypothesis that prevention of magnesium deficiency averts DNA damage measured using the lymphocyte CBMN assay.
Whether supplementation with different forms of magnesium (e.g. magnesium citrate or magnesium sulphate) can reduce MN and NPBs requires further study using placebo-controlled trials.
The results we present regarding the DNA protection effects of magnesium could benefit clinicians and nutritionists in patient counselling regarding food supplementation, if properly implemented, could impact the onset or progression of cancer and other non-communicable disease.”