Supplemental magnesium intake may be associated with reduced heart disease risk

Most Americans consume inadequate levels of magnesium and these suboptimal intakes of magnesium may contribute to an increased incidence of cardiovascular disease.

Current dietary guidelines recommend a minimum magnesium intake of 310-420 mg per day to maintain health and reduce cardiovascular risk. Typical U.S. adults fall short on dietary intake of this important mineral, as more than two-thirds (68%) are not meeting these minimum recommendations. Even worse, 19% of adults are consuming less than 50% of the RDA.

Researchers have recently determined that dietary magnesium consumption is associated with C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker of inflammation. An increased CRP level, is a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

In a large sample of normally healthy U.S. adults, it was determined that those who consumed less than the RDA of magnesium were 48%-75% more likely to have elevated CRP levels than adults who consumed levels higher than the RDA. Overweight adults over age 40 consuming less than 50% RDA for magnesium were more than twice as likely to have elevated CRP as adults getting more than the RDA.

Given the above, Researchers have concluded that inadequate intakes of magnesium may be contributing to cardiovascular disease incidence.

Journal of the American College of Nutrition, Vol. 24, No. 3, 166- 171 (2005).