Role of Magnesium in health and disease

 

Magnesium is the fourth most common mineral in the human body after calcium, sodium, and potassium and is the second most common intracellular cation after potassium.

In a 70 kg individual, there is an average of 25 grams of magnesium in reserve. Of total body Mg2+, ~99% is intracellular, with 53% in bone, 27% in muscle, 19% in soft tissues, and less than 1% in the serum (Ref.11).Roughly 30% of ingested magnesium through food or drinking water is absorbed by the intestine, although the extent of absorption depends on the body magnesium status (increased in case of Mg2+ deficiency). Magnesium homeostasis is further regulated through the secretion and reabsorption in the kidneys, where about 95% of the filtered magnesium is reabsorbed.Magnesium (Mg2+) is a critical micronutrient. It is an essential cofactor for over 300 enzymes involved in many of the normal functions of the body. Magnesium is used by every cell to synthesize proteins, repair DNA, and provide energy. Magnesium is implicated in over 80% of metabolic functions.Mg2+ is a cofactor in the activation of hundreds of enzymatic processes regulating diverse biochemical reactions, including energy metabolism, protein synthesis, muscle and nerve function, blood glucose, and blood pressure control.

 

Author(s): Dr. Sanjay Agarwal

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