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Magnesium

The mineral magnesium is important for your heart, muscles, and kidneys. It is part of what makes up your teeth and bones. Most important, it activates enzymes, giving you energy and helping your body work properly. It can help reduce stress, depression, and insomnia. Vitamin B₆ helps you get the magnesium you need and works with magnesium in many ways.

Magnesium is available in many foods. However, most people in the United States probably do not get as much magnesium as they should from their diet. Nutrition tables can give you only a rough idea of how much magnesium you are getting. Scientists have found that different ways of determining the amount of magnesium in foods produce different results. Also, many foods have not been thoroughly analyzed.

Certain medical conditions can upset your body's magnesium balance. For example, intestinal flu with vomiting or diarrhea can cause temporary deficiencies. Long-term deficiencies can be caused by stomach and bowel diseases, diabetes, pancreatitis, kidney malfunction, and diuretics. Talk with your health care provider about your magnesium needs if you have any of these conditions.

Uses

Getting enough magnesium can help you in the following ways:

Dietary Sources

The richest sources of magnesium are tofu, nuts (Brazil nuts, almonds, cashews, black walnuts, pine nuts), pumpkin and squash seeds, peanuts, green leafy vegetables, legumes, wheat bran, whole grains, soybean flour, blackstrap molasses.

Other good sources are whole wheat flour, oat flour, beet greens, spinach, shredded wheat, bran cereals, oatmeal, bananas, baked potatoes (with the skin), pistachio nuts.

You can also get magnesium from many herbs, spices, and seaweeds (for example, agar seaweed, coriander, dill weed, celery seed, sage, dried mustard, basil, cocoa powder, fennel seed, savory, cumin seed, tarragon, marjoram, and poppy seed).

Other Forms

Magnesium is available in many forms. The best supplements are labeled "soluble," which means it's easier for your body to absorb the magnesium it needs. These come in gelatin capsules. Recommended types include magnesium citrate, magnesium gluconate, and magnesium lactate.

Other familiar sources of magnesium are milk of magnesia (magnesium hydroxide), often used as a laxative or antacid, Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate) used as a laxative or tonic, or added to a bath. Some magnesium can be absorbed through the skin.

How to Take It

You should take small doses of magnesium throughout the day, with a full glass of water with each dose to avoid diarrhea. These are the recommended daily amounts:

Precautions

Do not take magnesium supplements if you have severe heart disease or kidney disease without talking with your health care provider.

Overuse of milk of magnesia (as a laxative or antacid) or Epsom salts (as a laxative or tonic) can cause you to ingest too much magnesium, especially if you have kidney problems. Too much magnesium can cause serious health problems and even death.

Possible Interactions

Penicillamine, a medication used for the treatment of Wilson's disease and rheumatoid arthritis, can inactivate magnesium, particularly when high doses are used over a long period of time.

Aminoglycoside antibiotics (such as gentamicin and tobramycin), thiazide diuretics (such as hydrochlorothiazide), and loop diuretics (such as furosemide and bumetanide) may lower magnesium levels. Amphotericin B, corticosteroids, and antacids can also reduce blood levels of magnesium.

Insulin and digoxin can lower magnesium levels. Although adequate levels of magnesium can enhance the effectiveness of both medications, consult your health care provider before taking magnesium supplements.

Magnesium may increase the likelihood of negative side effects (such as dizziness, nausea, and leg swelling) from calcium channel blockers, particularly nifedipine, that are used to control blood pressure. Pregnancy increases the likelihood of this interaction.

Supporting Research

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Crippa G, Sverzellati E, Girogi Pierfranceschi M, Carrara GC. Magnesium and cardiovascular drugs: interactions and therapeutic role. Ann Ital Med Int. 1999;14(1):40-45.

Davis WB, Wells SR, Kuller JA, Thorp JM Jr. Analysis of the risks associated with calcium channel blockade: implications for the obstetrician-gynecologist. Obstet Gynecol Surv. 1997; 52(3):198-201.

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Mersebach H, Rasmussen AK, Kirkegaard L, Feldt-Rasmussen U. Intestinal absorption of levothyroxine by antacids and laxatives: case stories and in vitro experiments. Pharmacol Toxicol. 1999;84(3):107-109.

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Sacks FM, Willett WC, Smith A, Brown LB, Rosner B, Moore TJ. Effect on blood pressure of potassium, calcium, and magnesium in women with low habitual intake. Hypertension. 1998;31:131–138.

Seelig MS. Auto-immune complications of D-penicillamine – a possible result of zinc and magnesium depletion and of pyridoxine inactivation. J Am Coll Nutr. 1982;1(2):207-214.

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