Magnesium: Deficiency Effects and Positive Benefits
Within the human body, there are several essential vitamins and minerals which play a prominent role in chemical, physiological, and bodily functions. Magnesium is one of those minerals and is used as a cofactor in over 300 body processes including processes which concern “protein synthesis, muscle and nerve function, blood glucose control, and blood pressure regulation” [1]. However, even though magnesium is utilized throughout the body, it is complicated to test for in standardized blood tests because only 1% of the body’s magnesium is stored in the blood. Consequently, it is often incorrectly tested and measured [2]. Some natural health professionals have even argued magnesium is the most essential mineral in the body because its existence, or lack thereof, will determine how other minerals, calcium, potassium, or sodium, are regulated. Therefore, it is wise to be educated on the benefits of magnesium as well as the consequences of magnesium deficiency. This article will be split into two parts; during the first part, we will discuss the implications of being deficient in magnesium as well as the benefits the mineral offers, and in the second part, we will discuss Healthmasters’ magnesium products, specifically the Magnesium Brain Food.
To begin, because magnesium is used throughout the body, and even a slight deficiency could cause a cascade effect and negatively affect a wide range of bodily functions. Dr. Sidney Baker, a Yale medical school graduate, published an article highlighting the adverse side effects of magnesium deficiency, and we will examine several of them, but the full report is available online. First, magnesium deficiency tends to affect the smooth muscles, and this can be in the plain form of muscle cramps to more advanced issues including constipation and muscle spasms. Sometimes someone may have a lump in their throat, similar to when they may be getting sick, after they eat a lot of sugar, and because they are deficient in magnesium, that lump may not go away, and the deficiency may affect the smooth muscles in one’s eyes and make it hard to focus their eyesight at night with bright lights.
Second, magnesium deficiency will often affect the central nervous system of the human body and cause a wide variety of issues. These issues may include “‘insomnia, anxiety, hyperactivity and restlessness with constant movement, panic attacks, agoraphobia, and premenstrual irritability. Magnesium deficiency symptoms involving the peripheral nervous system include numbness, tingling, and other abnormal sensations, such as zips, zaps and vibratory sensations’” [2].
Third, magnesium deficiency can affect the heart because the heart is a combination of muscles and nerves. Some symptoms may include “‘palpitations, heart arrhythmias, and angina due to spasms of the coronary arteries, high blood pressure and mitral valve prolapse’” [2].
Finally, there are several smaller, more specific issues severe magnesium deficiency may cause. For example, magnesium is crucially important for proper brain function. For example, a severe lack of magnesium may cause some individuals to have a clouded brain where they may have difficulty thinking, may experience confusion or disorientation, or may have symptoms of depression [2]. Lastly, magnesium is essential for people with diabetes to use because it has been argued that magnesium deficiency may be a common factor associated with insulin resistance [2].
Possible Early Warning Signs |
Possible Manifestations of Magnesium Deficiency |
Physical/mental fatigue |
Low energy |
Persistent under-eye twitch |
Fatigue |
Tension in upper back, shoulders |
Weakness |
Headaches/migraines |
Confusion |
Pre-menstrual fluid retention |
Nervousness |
Breast tenderness |
Anxiousness |
|
Irritability |
|
Seizures (and tantrums) |
|
Poor Digestion |
|
PMS and hormonal imbalances |
|
Inability to sleep |
|
Muscle tension, spasm, and cramps |
|
Calcification of organs |
|
Weakening of the bones |
|
Abnormal heart rhythm |
Signs of Severe Magnesium Deficiency Include: |
|
Extreme thirst |
Unexplained weight loss |
Extreme hunger |
Blurry vision that changes daily |
Frequent irritation |
Unusual tiredness or drowsiness |
Sores or bruises that heal slowly |
Tingling or numbness in hands/feet |
Dry, itchy skin |
Frequent/recurring skin, gum, bladder, or vaginal yeast infections |
Adapted from Reference [2]
As seen in the above table, since magnesium is used throughout the body, a deficiency of magnesium is like destroying the bottom of a block tower… everything else seems to fall.
Now, we will briefly discuss various research which has been performed on the benefits of magnesium. For the entire source list, go to reference [3].
- Magnesium and depression may have an inverse relationship, meaning at magnesium levels increase, depression chances decrease and vice versa [4].
- “Magnesium supplementation appears to have a beneficial role and improves glucose parameters in people with diabetes and also improves insulin-sensitivity parameters in those at high risk of diabetes” [5].
- “A combination of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids as well as magnesium and zinc consumption on attentional, behavioral, and emotional problems of children and adolescents” [6].
- “A combination of magnesium and magnesium may reduce depression” [7].
- “For every 100 mg increase in intake of magnesium, a 49% reduction in the risk for mortality due to liver diseases was found” [8].
- “Low blood magnesium levels, as well as a high calcium to magnesium ratio, were significantly associated with high-grade prostate cancer” [9].
- “Lower dietary magnesium intake was associated with higher blood pressure and stroke risk” [10].
- “Lower dietary magnesium intake was independently associated with greater odds of rapid kidney function decline” [11].
- “Magnesium significantly improves severe acute asthma in children” [12].
- “Oral magnesium successfully relieves premenstrual mood changes” [13].
- “Serum magnesium in migraine patients was significantly lower than the normal population and related to the frequency of migraine attacks, supporting the use of magnesium in the prevention and treatment of migraine” [14].
As one can quickly gather by now, magnesium does not have a single use but instead is used throughout the body. If we have not covered an issue concerning magnesium you are curious about, please go to reference [3] and search and perform your research when you are done reading this article.
Now, let us discuss Healthmasters’ magnesium products as well as their quality.
Not all magnesium products are made equal because there are many, many forms of magnesium, and while some may be cheap, that does not necessarily mean your body will be able to use that form, so in the end, it might be a waste of an investment.
However, Healthmasters is dedicated to producing and selling the highest quality nutraceuticals in the world and is consistently researching for better products and upgrading our product line-up. As a consequence, Healthmasters offers the highest quality and latest, most absorbable forms of magnesium on the market. Healthmasters’ flagship magnesium product, Magnesium Brain Food, is that product.
Below are the ingredients in the Magnesium Brain Food, and we will discuss each of their benefits.
Magnesium (as Albion® di-magnesium malate, Magtein™ magnesium L-threonate, and TRAACS® magnesium lysinate glycinate chelate) |
200 mg |
Magtein™ (magnesium L-threonate) |
1 g (1000 mg) |
Albion® di-magnesium malate and TRAACS® magnesium lysinate glycinate chelate: Extremely absorbable forms of magnesium.
Magtein™ magnesium L-threonate: The only form of magnesium proven in animal studies to cross the blood-brain barrier. One of the main issues with typical magnesium is that it cannot cross the blood-brain barrier and enter the brain, and magnesium levels in the brain are challenging to test. However, researchers at MIT have been able to develop this form of magnesium for efficient brain absorption [15].
All in all, the benefits of magnesium are continuous because of magnesium’s importance, and issues with deficiency could begin with simple problems and then lead to larger, more complex complications. Healthmasters has been able to bring the latest and most absorbable magnesium products to the market, and we urge you to give the Magnesium Brain Food a try.
If you have any questions about Healthmasters’ products as well as the Magnesium Brain Food, please give us a call at 800.726.1834.
References:
[1] https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Magnesium-HealthProfessional/
[2] http://www.greenmedinfo.com/blog/magnesium-deficiency-symptoms-and-diagnosis
[3] http://www.greenmedinfo.com/substance/magnesium
[4] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27807012
[5] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27530471
[6] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20868469
[7] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28155119
[8] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29263344
[9] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21541018
[10] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26082204
[11] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27771720
[12] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11030848
[13] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2067759
[14] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21983373
[15] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20152124