Effects of magnesium on the human body
Effects of magnesium on the human body Magnesium is one of the key minerals for the health and wellbeing of our body, as it plays an essential role across all systems. This mineral is considered essential for all metabolic processes.
Metabolic function
Magnesium plays a key role in the storage, transfer, and use of energy.
Muscle function
Magnesium is necessary to provide muscles with energy through ATP. ATP, or adenosine triphosphate, is the primary energy source in cells and needs to bind to a magnesium ion in order to become active. In addition, magnesium is directly involved in regulating the calcium stores of muscle cells, thereby influencing contraction and relaxation processes.
Neurological function
Magnesium is essential for maintaining normal brain functions. It is involved in the regulation of the NMDA receptor, which is crucial for excitatory synapses. When magnesium is deficient, these receptors become overexcitable, leading to conditions such as migraine, depression, epilepsy, and neurodegenerative diseases. Moreover, magnesium plays a key role in the synthesis of several neurotransmitters, including dopamine, noradrenaline, serotonin, melatonin, and GABA. This makes it an essential element for supporting normal brain and cognitive functions (attention span, memory, learning), regulating sleep patterns and mood. It also contributes to the control of behaviour, voluntary movements, and body temperature.
Bone function
Magnesium stored in the bones helps maintain constant levels of this mineral in the blood. In cases of hypomagnesaemia, magnesium is released from the bone to restore normal plasma concentrations. There is a continuous exchange between bone magnesium and circulating magnesium in the blood.
Magnesium also helps increase phosphorus solubility and stimulates osteoblast proliferation. A deficiency of magnesium, therefore, reduces bone formation by decreasing osteoblast activity.