ISLAMABAD DEC 23 (ONLINE): Magnesium is a mineral that affects many aspects of how the human body works, including nerve function, muscle function, and bone development.
A review published in Nutrients discusses how magnesium affects cardiovascular health, according to recent studies.
The review suggests that inadequate magnesium levels can increase the risk for cardiovascular disease, based on data from multiple studies.
Patrick Kee, MD, PhD, a cardiologist with Vital Heart & Vein, who was not involved in the review, explained on Monday what a magnesium deficiency is, and how doctors can diagnose it.
He told us that:
“Magnesium deficiency can manifest in two distinct states: hypomagnesaemia and chronic latent magnesium deficiency. Hypomagnesaemia is relatively straightforward to diagnose, as it is characterized by a low serum magnesium level below 1.5 to 1.8 mg/dL [milligrams per deciliter]. However, total body magnesium deficiency without hypomagnesaemia can be challenging to detect. This condition, known as chronic latent magnesium deficiency, can only be diagnosed through a magnesium tolerance test, which involves administering an intravenous infusion of magnesium followed by urine collections. Unfortunately, this test is laborious and not widely accessible.”
More recent data have added to these findings. Many studies from 2018 and on have found that magnesium status is inversely correlated with high blood pressure, stroke, coronary and ischemic heart disease, atrial fibrillation, heart failure, and cardiac morbidity and mortality.
The review then discusses how magnesium deficiency may contribute to cardiovascular problems. There may be multiple mechanisms involved.
For example, magnesium deficiency may contribute to inflammatory stress and oxidative stress. The author defines oxidative stress as “an imbalance between oxidants (reactive oxygen and nitrogen species) and antioxidants.”
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