title: Suboptimal magnesium status in the United States: are the health consequences underestimated?
abstract: In comparison with calcium, magnesium is an "orphan nutrient" that has been studied considerably less heavily. Low magnesium intakes and blood levels have been associated with type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, elevated C-reactive protein, hypertension, atherosclerotic vascular disease, sudden cardiac death, osteoporosis, migraine headache, asthma, and colon cancer. Almost half (48%) of the US population consumed less than the required amount of magnesium from food in 2005-2006, and the figure was down from 56% in 2001-2002. Surveys conducted over 30 years indicate rising calcium-to-magnesium food-intake ratios among adults and the elderly in the United States, excluding intake from supplements, which favor calcium over magnesium. The prevalence and incidence of type 2 diabetes in the United States increased sharply between 1994 and 2001 as the ratio of calcium-to-magnesium intake from food rose from <3.0 to >3.0. Dietary Reference Intakes determined by balance studies may be misleading if subjects have chronic latent magnesium deficiency but are assumed to be healthy. Cellular magnesium deficit, perhaps involving TRPM6/7 channels, elicits calcium-activated inflammatory cascades independent of injury or pathogens. Refining the magnesium requirements and understanding how low magnesium status and rising calcium-to-magnesium ratios influence the incidence of type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, osteoporosis, and other inflammation-related disorders are research priorities.
authors.affiliation: Center for Magnesium Education & Research, 13-1255 Malama Street, Pahoa, HI 96778, USA. ARosanoff@gmail.com
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rosanoff
authors.forename: Connie M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Weaver
authors.forename: Robert K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Rude
mesh_terms: D002136:Calcium, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D006801:Humans; D008274:Magnesium / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000097:blood*; D008275:Magnesium Deficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D009752:Nutritional Status; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D002136:Calcium, Dietary; D008274:Magnesium