Magnesium's Role and Deficiency Prevalence

• Magnesium is essential for over 300 enzyme functions in the body, affecting heart, bone, muscle, and serum health. However, because serum magnesium does not accurately reflect intracellular magnesium levels, deficiency is frequently undiagnosed.
• Subclinical magnesium deficiency, lacking overt symptoms but leading to chronic disease, is rampant due to factors like refined diets, chronic diseases, and medication use.

Impacts of Magnesium Deficiency on Cardiovascular Health

• Magnesium deficiency contributes to hypertension, arrhythmias, arterial calcifications, and increased risk for thrombosis by upsetting the balance of other minerals in the body and affecting heart muscle function.
• The deficiency can lead to severe cardiovascular conditions, including heart failure, myocardial infarction, and even sudden cardiac death, primarily due to its role in maintaining electrical and structural stability of the heart.

Magnesium Intake Recommendations

• Despite its importance, the majority of modern diets fall short in meeting recommended magnesium intake levels, with processed foods significantly lacking in this mineral.
• Supplementation and increased dietary intake of magnesium are suggested to achieve optimal magnesium status to reduce the risk of developing numerous chronic diseases.

Challenges in Diagnosing Magnesium Deficiency

• Accurately diagnosing magnesium deficiency is complicated by the lack of reliable serum magnesium tests that reflect total body magnesium content.
• Specialized tests, like the intravenous magnesium load test and measurement of ionized magnesium, can be more indicative of true magnesium status but are not routinely practiced.