Not getting enough magnesium could affect cardiovascular risk
ISLAMABAD: Magnesium is a crucial mineral that influences the functioning of muscles and nerves, along with many other bodily processes.
Researchers are keen to understand how magnesium might impact heart health.
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A recent analysis indicates that insufficient magnesium levels could elevate the risk of several heart-related diseases, and many individuals are not getting enough magnesium in their diets.
Individuals can take actions to boost their magnesium intake if needed.
Magnesium is a vital element that impacts numerous functions in the body, such as nerve activity, muscle performance, and bone health.
A study published in Nutrients explores the relationship between magnesium and cardiovascular health, based on recent findings.
The review suggests that low magnesium levels may increase the likelihood of heart disease, supported by data from several studies.
The review also highlights various mechanisms that might be at play and points out that many people do not consume sufficient magnesium in their diets.
Magnesium intake: What impact does it have on cardiovascular disease risk?
Dr. Patrick Kee, MD, PhD, a cardiologist at Vital Heart & Vein, who was not part of the review, explained to Medical News Today what magnesium deficiency is and how it can be diagnosed by doctors.
He told us that:
“Magnesium deficiency can present in two distinct forms: hypomagnesemia and chronic latent magnesium deficiency. Hypomagnesemia is relatively easy to diagnose as it is marked by a low serum magnesium level, typically below 1.5 to 1.8 mg/dL [milligrams per deciliter]. On the other hand, total body magnesium deficiency without hypomagnesemia can be harder to identify. This condition, referred to as chronic latent magnesium deficiency, can only be diagnosed using a magnesium tolerance test, which involves an intravenous magnesium infusion followed by urine collection. Unfortunately, this test is time-consuming and not widely available.”
The review highlights that individuals with chronic latent magnesium deficiency have overall reduced magnesium levels, yet their serum magnesium levels appear normal.
Several important points in the history of magnesium research are noted in the review. For some time, it was believed that magnesium deficiency was not a significant concern, mainly affecting individuals with conditions that impaired the body’s ability to absorb or excrete magnesium.
However, research in the late 1990s and early 2000s began to support the notion that insufficient dietary magnesium led to low magnesium levels in the body, and this deficiency could potentially impact cardiovascular health.
Following 2006, numerous epidemiological studies, randomized controlled trials, and meta-analyses have demonstrated a connection between magnesium and conditions such as high blood pressure, heart failure, and cardiac mortality.
More recent data has further supported these findings. Numerous studies from 2018 onward have shown that magnesium levels are inversely related to high blood pressure, stroke, coronary artery disease, ischemic heart disease, atrial fibrillation, heart failure, and both cardiac morbidity and mortality.
The review then explores how magnesium deficiency could contribute to cardiovascular issues, suggesting that multiple mechanisms might be at play.
For instance, magnesium deficiency could lead to increased inflammatory stress and oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is defined by the author as “an imbalance between oxidants (reactive oxygen and nitrogen species) and antioxidants.”
Additionally, some evidence supports the idea that magnesium deficiency may lead to abnormal lipid levels and disruptions in lipid metabolism.
The author references data from human studies indicating that chronic latent magnesium deficiency could cause changes in lipid profiles. The review also suggests that magnesium deficiency may contribute to endothelial dysfunction and alterations in electrolyte metabolism.
How much magnesium do you need?
Following the discussion on the link between magnesium and cardiovascular disease, the review shifts to magnesium intake. The author notes that determining the ideal amount of magnesium a person should consume has proven difficult.
Several factors could influence how much magnesium an individual requires. For instance, some studies suggest that people who have higher body weight might need to consume more magnesium.
