MAGNESIUM



Magnesium supplements Magnesium is a chemical element with the symbol Mg and atomic number 12. And 'the eighth most abundant element on earth constitutes about 2% of the earth's crust, is also the third most abundant of the elements dissolved in seawater. In nature, the magnesium does not exist in the free state, but is complexed with other elements.

The name "magnesium" originates from the Greek word for a prefecture of Thessaly called Magnesia: hence the term was formerly attributed by alchemists to many substances, similar in texture and color, extracted in the territory. Joseph Black, England, recognized magnesium as an element in 1755.

Magnesium in our body:
 
The content of magnesium in the adult body is 20 to 28 g approx: 60% is present in bones, 39% in the intracellular behavior and about 1% in the extracellular fluid.
The recommended daily intake of magnesium for an adult is 350 mg for men and 300 mg for women (Lichton, 1989), dose increased up to 450 mg during pregnancy and lactation. Magnesium is responsible for many essential metabolic processes such as the formation of urea, the transmission of impulses muscle, nerve transmission and electrical stability phone.

Magnesium in foods:

Magnesium is contained in many foods, such as cereals (especially grains), nuts (160 mg per 100 grams of product), almonds (200 mg) peanuts (120 mg), millet and buckwheat (120 to 140 mg) , cocoa (400 mg), wheat germ, lentils and green vegetables, but also in meats, flour and dairy products. The cooking of food significantly reduces the availability of magnesium in foods. Available mineral waters are particularly rich in magnesium salts.

Magnesium deficiency:
 
Given the widespread presence of magnesium in foods and the high efficiency of retention of magnesium by the kidney, there are no known cases of spontaneous dietary deficiency of magnesium. States of magnesium deficiency were induced only in an experimental way with controlled intake of magnesium, or may meet in cases of gastrointestinal disease. The lack of magnesium in the body can lead to nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, high blood pressure, muscle spasms, heart failure, confusion, tremors, weakness, personality changes, anxiety and loss of coordination. Magnesium deficiency is manifested by abnormal metabolism of calcium, sodium and potassium.

Toxicity of magnesium:

The ingestion of large amounts of magnesium (3 - 5 g) causes diarrhea, but in the presence of a normal renal function does not occur nor hypermagnesaemia nor harmful systemic effects. A hypermagnesemia may instead be induced in patients with impaired renal function. The hypermagnesemia initially manifests with nausea, vomiting and hypotension, but later bradycardia, cutaneous vasodilation, electrocardiographic abnormalities, hyporeflexia and depression of the central nervous system, and finally to respiratory depression, coma and cardiac arrest.



Magnesium supplements