There are few molecules that are more important to the normal functioning of the body than magnesium. Of note, over 99% of the magnesium content in the body is located inside the cells. And over 95% of the intracellular magnesium is inside the energy-producing mitochondria. Not only is magnesium an essential cofactor for hundreds of critical enzymes, it is involved in roughly 80% of all the known metabolic functions in the body. All medical conditions will be worsened in individuals with deficient magnesium levels, and any therapies aimed at relieving those conditions will never be optimally effective as long as the magnesium levels stay low.
Because magnesium deficiencies in such individuals aggravate all known pathologies, magnesium is arguably the single most important supplement for someone to take on a regular basis. Even a vital supplement like vitamin C is not as important, since other supplemental and dietary antioxidants can at the very least minimally compensate for the lack of vitamin C intake. However, only the sufficient intake of magnesium can compensate for a magnesium deficiency. There are no magnesium analogues that can minimize the impact of such a deficiency.
Magnesium: Mineral Extraordinaire
by Dr. Thomas E. Levy, MD, JD