Do you experience persistent fatigue, tiredness, irritability or sleep problems? We often attribute these symptoms to stress and overwork, but they may be signs of magnesium deficiency that can lead to serious consequences.
We discuss how dangerous magnesium deficiency can be and how to obtain enough of this micronutrient to neutralise its adverse consequences with Prof. Dr Maya Penkova Danovska-Mladenova, MD, PhD, Head of the Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery at the Medical University of Pleven and Head of the Neurology Clinic at Dr Georgi Stranski University Hospital, Pleven.
Magnesium is an essential macromineral with a complex role in maintaining the normal functions of the human body. It is an essential cofactor in energy production, participates in more than 300 enzymatic reactions, is needed for amino-acid and protein synthesis, and influences muscle contraction, blood pressure and insulin metabolism. Acute or chronic magnesium deficiency affects the cardiovascular, skeletal, muscular and nervous systems, impairs mental health and disrupts metabolic processes. In the nervous system, magnesium is indispensable for optimal neurotransmission and neuromuscular coordination. It provides effective protection against excessive excitation of nerve cells, which inevitably leads to their death. Early symptoms of magnesium deficiency (hypomagnesaemia) often go unnoticed and are underestimated. It is therefore important to recognise a magnesium deficiency promptly and take appropriate measures to obtain optimal amounts of this essential element. Magnesium deficiency is commonly associated mainly with fatigue, anxiety and sleep problems, but in practice most people suspect a deficiency only after extremely painful muscle cramps develop.
What role does magnesium play in the treatment of neurological disorders?
Low magnesium levels enhance glutamate neurotransmission, leading to hyperexcitability, oxidative stress and neuronal cell death. This is associated with a range of neurological and psychiatric conditions, including migraine, chronic pain, epilepsy, stroke, Alzheimer's disease, parkinsonism, depression and anxiety. Magnesium protects neurons against excessive excitation, has a beneficial effect on the entire nervous system and acts as a neuroprotective agent. Experimental studies have demonstrated magnesium's neuroprotective effects, making it an important dietary factor in the prevention and comprehensive treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
Magnesium blocks the release of stress hormones
Conditions such as anxiety, obsessive thoughts, restless sleep and a rapid heart rate occur when gamma-aminobutyric acid, often called GABA, does not function properly. GABA is the neurotransmitter that relaxes brain activity. These conditions can be successfully regulated with magnesium. Magnesium blocks the release of stress hormones, including cortisol. It prevents them from reaching the brain and acts as a neuroprotective agent through this mechanism. Cortisol is one of the most significant causes of anxiety. It triggers so-called “brain fog”, which prevents us from focusing, thinking clearly, reacting quickly and remembering effectively. At the same time, magnesium stimulates production of serotonin, also known as the happiness hormone, which supports a positive mood, appetite and healthy sleep and helps counter depressive states. It has been shown that the body's need for magnesium rises sharply under stress, while deficiency leads to chronic pain and emotional and psychological tension. Magnesium deficiency also reduces melatonin levels – the hormone that regulates sleep – and serious disruption to sleep architecture may occur.
Magnesium reduces the risk of stroke and helps prevent migraine attacks
Migraine and headache are often accompanied by stress, fatigue and exhaustion, while magnesium deficiency is associated with neurotransmitter release and vasoconstriction – narrowing of the blood vessels – which predispose to headache. Magnesium dilates blood vessels in the brain and thereby helps prevent migraine attacks. Its modulating effects on vascular tone, blood pressure and heart rhythm also improve blood flow, reduce the risk of stroke and support cognitive function.
Magnesium has a beneficial effect on chronic pain
Pain is the most common complaint, with diverse clinical presentations, for which patients visit a doctor. Magnesium's blocking effect on the calcium channels of NMDA receptors in the spinal cord reduces neuronal hyperexcitability and has a beneficial effect on chronic pain. Magnesium deficiency is thought to play a key role in the pathogenesis and progression of neurodegenerative diseases through its involvement in low-grade inflammation. Scientific evidence indicates that magnesium supplementation slows the progression of neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease, parkinsonism and multiple sclerosis. Adequate dietary magnesium intake combined with correctly dosed magnesium supplementation is therefore an important preventive measure in the therapeutic approach to neurodegenerative disease.
What is the optimal dose of magnesium we should take?
Normal serum magnesium values range from 0.6 to 1.05 millimoles per litre (mmol/L). It is important to note that daily requirements increase with age. Magnesium deficiency is present when serum values are below 0.5 mmol/L. This condition is called hypomagnesaemia. It has been shown that only 50% of magnesium is absorbed from food. We can therefore obtain the required daily amount by taking suitable food supplements. I recommend Magnesium + B Complex by ABOPharma, as this product contains an optimal amount of magnesium and effectively helps compensate for a deficiency of this important mineral in the body.
Why Magnesium + B Complex by ABOPharma? What distinguishes it from other magnesium products on the market?
First, the product provides a high dose of magnesium ions. Magnesium + B Complex contains a high-quality magnesium salt in the form of magnesium carbonate of entirely natural origin. Each tablet is therefore made with the highest pharmaceutical-grade magnesium carbonate. The clinically studied formula combines a highly bioavailable form of magnesium with B vitamins for maximum effect, the product's next important advantage. The B-vitamin complex supports metabolism, allowing the body to produce energy, and contributes to overall health. Vitamin B1 participates in converting nutrients into energy. Vitamin B2 acts as an antioxidant and helps increase energy reserves. Vitamin B6 participates in amino-acid metabolism, red blood cell production and neurotransmitter formation, while vitamin B12 is essential for normal nervous system function, DNA production and red blood cell development. The B vitamins in the formula significantly support magnesium absorption in the body while increasing its activity. One Magnesium + B Complex tablet by ABOPharma provides 10.3 mmol of magnesium ions and is sufficient to achieve an optimal daily intake for an adult.
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THE PHARMACIST'S OPINION
MPharm Margarita Bartoszek
Magn
esium + vitamin B complex by ABOPharma consists of tablets developed using a special technology that enables them to dissolve and be absorbed by the body as quickly as possible. The product formula is also the result of many years of research and contains one of the most highly bioavailable forms of magnesium, manufactured in Germany, while the finished product is produced at an ABOPharma facility in the Netherlands. The B vitamins are also essential: they support magnesium absorption by the body while enhancing its action. These include vitamin B2, which acts as an antioxidant and helps convert food into energy. It participates in red blood cell production, is needed for antibody production, strengthens immune system function and makes the body more resistant to viruses and bacteria.
