MAGNESIUM IS IMPORTANT FOR MANY PROCESSES IN THE BODY INCLUDING: 

• REGULATING muscle and nerve function, blood sugar levels, and blood pressure.  
• MAKING protein, bone, and DNA. 

HEALTH BENEFITS OF MAGNESIUM 

• HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AND HEART DISEASE: High blood pressure is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease and stroke. Magnesium supplements might decrease blood pressure, but only by a small amount 
• TYPE 2 DIABETES: Diets with higher amounts of magnesium are associated with a significantly lower risk of diabetes, possibly because of the important role of magnesium in glucose metabolism 
• MIGRAINE HEADACHES: Magnesium deficiency is related to factors that promote headaches, including neurotransmitter release and vasoconstriction. People who experience migraine headaches have lower levels of serum and tissue magnesium than those who do not. 
• OSTEOPOROSIS: Magnesium is involved in bone formation and influences the activities of osteoblasts and osteoclasts. 

FOOD SOURCES OF MAGNESIUM 

• Legumes, nuts, seeds, whole grains, and green leafy vegetables (such as spinach) 
• Fortified breakfast cereals and other fortified foods 
• Milk, yogurt, and some other milk products 

INTERACTIONS WITH MEDICATIONS 

Several types of medications have the potential to interact with magnesium supplements or affect magnesium status. A few examples include bisphosphonates, some antibiotics, loop diuretics, and prescription proton pump inhibitors. As such it’s always important to check what other medications a patient is taking before recommending a magnesium supplement. 

FAST FACTS:  

• Magnesium, an abundant mineral in the body, is naturally present in many foods, added to other food products, available as a dietary supplement, and present in some medicines (such as antacids and laxatives) 
• An adult body contains approximately 25g magnesium, with 50-60% present in the bones and most of the rest in soft tissues 
• Magnesium homeostasis is largely controlled by the kidney, which typically excretes about 120mg magnesium into the urine each day. Urinary excretion is reduced when magnesium status is low 

SOURCE: National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements