The Specific Uses of Minerals or Elements in the Body - Magnesium

September 2007: Volume 2 Number 9

Magnesium [Mg] – Magnesium is significant in many cell functions.  It is found in bones, teeth and activates many enzymes throughout the body. Magnesium is required to combine with calcium in bone growth and to assist the muscles to relax. A lack of magnesium can cause calcium to transfer from your bones to soft tissues of the body through an active transport system that requires energy for this transfer to take place. This is why some people fatigue so easily. Some professionals use malic acid with magnesium to treat fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, muscle aches and pains.

Low levels of magnesium have been associated with migraine headaches, depression, schizophrenia, sleep disorders, cardiovascular disease, PMS, psychiatric problems, and diabetes.

Excess magnesium levels have been associated with depressed skeletal muscle contraction and nerve function. Nausea, vomiting, muscle weakness, bradycardia, respiratory depression and hypotension are signs of too much magnesium in the body.

Magnesium stabilizes the enzymes that produce cellular energy and insulin production. Many people are deficient in magnesium because there is a shortage of this mineral in our food chain, especially in processed foods.

Magnesium is absolutely essential to transfer energy during protein synthesis, contractility of muscles and the excitability of nerves. Signs and symptoms of magnesium deficiency are growth failure, behavioral disturbances, weakness, tremor, tetany, seizures, and cardiac arrhythmias.

We will discuss Iron (Fe) mineral in our next lecture as a continuation of the specific uses of minerals or element in our bodies.

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