Magnesium : The Immune System ’ s Super Mineral
Sandy Sanderson | CEO , Elektra Magnesium ( BA UNSW )
Introduction
An inverse relationship between magnesium deficiency and the development of degenerative diseases and immune system disorders has been known for many years , but it wasn ’ t until the last decade that significant advances have been made to better understand magnesium ’ s role in immunity .
Magnesium ( Mg2 +) is required for homeostasis and regulation of the immune system . Chronic magnesium deficiency leads to enhanced baseline inflammation associated with oxidative stress , which can lead to temporary and long-term immune dysfunction . The lower the magnesium status , the more hypersensitive and primed for inflammation the immune system becomes , and the more inflammation and consequential oxidative stress , the more the body excretes magnesium , therefore tending to become even more deficient . Furthermore , we become primed for inflammation from chronic stress ( psychological or physical ), which leads to excessive urinary magnesium loss , and becomes a vicious circle . 1
Magnesium is the fourth most abundant cation in the human body and the second most abundant cation inside cells . This master mineral electrolyte is absolutely essential for the regulation of cell redox ( electron transfer and pH balancing ), protection of mitochondria , cell respiration , and the ability to produce ATP ( adenosine triphosphate ).
“ Magnesium is involved in the regulation of all metabolic pathways and in redox balance , its deficiency generates a metabolic and energetic stress and is associated with the accumulation of free radicals .” 2
The fire of inflammation is fanned by magnesium deficiency
Magnesium influences regulation of both cell proliferation and apoptosis ( cell death ). Its deficiency impairs the response of the adaptive and regulatory immune cells ( T and B ), while activating the innate immune system – thus promoting and amplifying inflammation .
This state coincides with heightened levels of tumour necrosis factor ( TNF-α ) and other proinflammatory cytokines in the bloodstream , as well as decreased concentrations of anti-inflammatory cytokines . The proinflammatory effects of magnesium deficiency are mainly influenced by the N-methyl-d-aspartate ( NMDA ) receptor , a glutamate receptor which is the brain ’ s primary excitatory neurotransmitter , and by nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells ( NF-κB ), which controls transcription of DNA , cytokine production and cell survival .
Several studies demonstrate that a moderate or subclinical magnesium deficiency induces a low grade , chronic inflammation , which is the common denominator of many common pathological conditions such as , “ cardiovascular diseases , diabetes , asthma , preeclampsia , osteoporosis , inflammatory bowel diseases , mental health disorders and neurodegenerative diseases [ 2 ]*. Biomarker of chronic inflammation is a modest 2 – 4 fold increase of inflammatory mediators .” 2
*[ 2 ] de Baaij JHF , Hoenderop JGJ , Bindels RJM . Magnesium in man : Implications for health and disease . Physiol . Rev ., 95 ( 2015 ), pp . 1-46 , 10.1152 / physrev . 00012.2014
212 | vol30 | no4 | JATMS