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Magnesium helps your body function properly. It’s essential for heart and muscle health, as well as sleep quality. So let’s check out, what the role Magnesium plays in the human body.
ATP is the energy currency of the cell, Mg is essential for the production of ATP by the enzyme called ATP synthase found in Mitochondria. Mg ion acts as a coenzyme for ATP synthase to synthesize ATP after oxidation of Glucose. Deficiency of Magnesium leads to less ATP synthesis. And thus you will fatigue and weak due to Mg deficiency.
DNA is the genetic material of living organism and Magnesium helps stabilize the DNA structure, facilitates the unwinding of the DNA double helix during replication, and aids in the accurate copying of the genetic code. Mg also supports the activity of DNA polymerases, the enzymes responsible for synthesizing new DNA strands. Overall, magnesium is indispensable for maintaining the integrity and fidelity of DNA replication and ensuring proper cellular function and development.
Magnesium plays most vital role in Maintaining heart rhythm. Magnesium helps regulate the electrical activity of the heart, and its pacemaker (the sinoatrial node). It aids in maintaining a regular heartbeat and preventing arrhythmias. Supporting muscle contraction. It helps the heart pump blood efficiently by ensuring coordinated and strong contractions, Dilating blood vessels. Magnesium promotes the relaxation of blood vessels, leading to vasodilation. This helps to lower blood pressure and improve blood flow to the heart and other organs.
Magnesium is a cofactor in numerous biochemical reactions, it binds to enzyme active sites, and brings structural changes in the structure of protein/ enzymes to facilitate catalytic processes.
Magnesium also plays an essential role in Hormone Signaling and Neurotransmitter release, as evident from the studies of GABA and NMDA receptors. The process by which signals are transmitted between neurons in the nervous system is facilitated by the help of various Neurotransmitter. Magnesium facilitates the release of neurotransmitters from nerve cells, enabling the transmission of signals across synapses. Magnesium is involved in regulating ion channels in nerve cell membranes, including calcium channels, which are essential for proper nerve impulse transmission. It also helps modulate the activity of neurotransmitters, such as glutamate, and has neuroprotective effects. Furthermore, magnesium play in synaptic plasticity, a process that underlies learning and memory. Overall, magnesium is vital for optimal neurotransmission and proper functioning of the nervous system.
Magnesium acts as a competitor to Calcium and regulates intracellular calcium concentration. Magnesium competes with calcium for membrane binding transportation proteins. The deficiency of Magnesium imbalances calcium homeostasis. Magnesium regulate the levels of calcium by controlling its entry into cells and preventing excessive calcium buildup. Magnesium acts as a natural calcium channel blocker, ensuring that calcium is properly managed and doesn’t accumulate in places where it shouldn’t or increase in Calcium ions that leads to Hypercalcemia.
By maintaining the balance of calcium ions, magnesium helps promote healthy muscle function, supports proper nerve signaling, and contributes to overall cellular health. It’s like a guardian, ensuring that calcium levels are in check and preventing any potential imbalances that could disrupt various physiological processes in our body.
Magnesium levels play a vital role in muscle contraction and the electrical activity of myocardial cells, triggering the neuromuscular and cardiovascular systems to onset on its functions. One of the primary ways magnesium influences muscle contraction is by facilitating the release of calcium ions from storage sites within muscle cells. These calcium ions bind to proteins, initiating a cascade of events that ultimately leads to muscle contraction. Inadequate levels of magnesium can impair muscle contraction, leading to weakness, cramps, and muscle spasms. Therefore, maintaining adequate magnesium levels through a balanced diet or supplementation is crucial for promoting healthy muscle function.
Maintenance of the ionic balance and homeostasis of potassium and calcium through the modulation of ion transport pumps and channels. Magnesium levels modulate the sodium-potassium ATPase pump, influencing the amount of intracellular ATP available. Achieving and maintaining proper ionic balance is essential for the body’s overall function and stability. As we know Magnesium is involved in regulating calcium and potassium channels. It helps control the movement of calcium ions into and out of cells, thus maintains a balance of total influx and outflux of different ions present in cell as well as intracellular fluids. this dynamic equilibrium of ions or homeostasis is essential, which is promoted through Magnesium ions.
Mg2+ level plays a direct role in the development of insulin resistance as insulin receptor proteins are dependent on the concentration of Mg.2+. Magnesium is involved in insulin release and activity, playing a role in insulin sensitivity and enhancing insulin-mediated glucose uptake into cells. Adequate magnesium levels support optimal insulin function, helping to maintain normal blood sugar levels and prevent insulin resistance.
Absorption of Magnesium from our diet, Occurs passively, via electrochemical gradients and solvent drag, and primarily in the jejunum and ileum of the small intestine. Serum magnesium concentration is kept within narrow limits, mainly through changes in renal excretion and subsequent reabsorption 2500 mg of magnesium is filtered at the kidneys daily, with 95% being reabsorbed and only ~100 mg being excreted, (65–75%) magnesium is reabsorbed at the thick ascending limb of the Loop of Henle, while only 15–20% of filtered magnesium is reabsorbed at the proximal tubule. If you find any Sign and symptoms of Low Magnesium level you should better get your self a Magnesium Test to assay your Magnesium level in the body.
The recommended Daily intake of Magnesium for adults is 400mg. However, if you want to eat dairy products like milk and cheese, which contain more calcium than magnesium, then you should not consume dark leafy greens or pinto beans. Dark leafy greens and fish are richer and more appropriate sources of magnesium compared to legumes such as kidney beans.
However, it’s important to remember that not all of these foods contain equal amounts of magnesium or provide a complete source for your body’s needs. Therefore, knowing which is best and the quantity to consume will help. For example, if you want to eat dark leafy greens, pinto beans, and fish, then there is no need for other sources of magnesium.
We hope you have enjoyed learning about Magnesium and the benefits it can have on your health. Remember to make sure that you are getting enough magnesium in your diet to prevent Magnesium deficiency by eating Magnesium rich foods regularly.
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