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Magnesium is a naturally occurring dietary mineral that is important for the body's bone structure. Women and the elderly are often susceptible to magnesium deficiency, so it is necessary to supplement magnesium to avoid osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease or diabetes.1. Overview of magnesium
Magnesium is essential for the growth and maintenance of proper bone structure. Besides, magnesium also plays an important role in helping to regulate the functions of nerves, muscles and many other parts of the body. In the stomach, for example, magnesium helps neutralize stomach acid and move stool through the intestines.
Foods high in fiber are also good sources of magnesium, such as:
Legumes, seeds (especially almonds) and whole grains; Vegetables, especially broccoli, squash, and green leafy vegetables; Dairy and meat products; Chocolate, coffee and water are high in minerals. A common effect of magnesium supplementation is to help relieve constipation, heartburn, as well as pregnancy complications (including pre-eclampsia and eclampsia), cardiac arrhythmias (specifically, apical torsion). Conversely, low magnesium levels in the body have been linked to diseases such as osteoporosis, high blood pressure, clogged arteries, inherited heart disease, diabetes, and stroke.
2. The role of magnesium in the body
Magnesium has many positive uses for the body, mainly improving the following conditions:
Constipation : Oral magnesium supplements are considered a laxative, helping to effectively treat constipation. or assist with bowel movements prior to certain medical procedures; Indigestion: Various magnesium compounds, especially magnesium hydroxide, when taken orally act as an antacid to help relieve symptoms of heartburn and indigestion; Seizures in pregnant women with eclampsia and preeclampsia: This is a pregnancy complication when the mother has high blood pressure and protein in the urine. Intravenous magnesium supplementation is the treatment of choice for pregnant women with the disease, reducing the risk of convulsions in the patient; Low blood magnesium levels (hypokalemia): Taking magnesium is a useful measure to help treat and prevent magnesium deficiency. Patients with liver and kidney dysfunction, heart failure, vomiting or diarrhea, etc. are often prone to magnesium deficiency.
In addition, providing magnesium through an IV line may also be helpful in controlling symptoms of irregular heartbeat, asthma, neuropathic pain in people with cancer, and obstructive pulmonary disease. chronic, cyclical headache, and postoperative pain. Meanwhile, oral magnesium supplementation or daily magnesium-rich menu choices are thought to be effective in avoiding infantile cerebral palsy, improving fatigue, and reducing the risk of colon and rectal cancers. relieve chest pain and blood clots, metabolic syndrome, muscle pain, high cholesterol, prevent osteoporosis and premenstrual syndrome.
3. Magnesium Supplement Guide
3.1. Oral magnesium can be taken at any time of the day, but it is necessary to follow the doctor's prescription with an appropriate dose. Specifically, the safe dose for an adult is less than 350 mg per day, including for pregnant and lactating women. If taken in excess (> 350mg/day), it is likely that magnesium will no longer work. Furthermore, too much magnesium builds up in the body and carries the risk of other serious complications, including irregular heartbeat, low blood pressure, decreased consciousness, slow breathing, coma, and even death. .
The recommended oral dose of magnesium in children is:
Children 1 - 3 years old: Under 65 mg; Children 4 - 8 years old: 110 mg; Children older than 8 years: 350 mg.
3.2. Intravenous IV Intravenous magnesium supplementation must be performed as directed by a physician. For pregnant and lactating women, magnesium injections should only be given up to 5 days before delivery if it is necessary to treat certain serious health conditions. If magnesium is given too much or lasts for more than 5 days, it can lose its effectiveness or cause bone and brain problems in your baby.
3.3. Some cautions Sometimes magnesium can cause stomach upset, causing patients to experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or other side effects. Besides, some diseases of the body will also affect the absorption of magnesium, such as:
Stomach infection; Immune disorders; Enteritis; Diabetes; Elderly or alcoholic. In addition, injecting or taking magnesium can also complicate certain medical conditions, for example:
Increases the risk of bleeding or bruising in people with bleeding disorders; Causes shortness of breath and weakness in people with myasthenia gravis; Excessive accumulation of magnesium because the body has difficulty excreting it in patients with kidney problems; Increased symptoms of restless leg syndrome (RLS). In general, magnesium supplementation is generally considered safe if the patient has clearly explained to the doctor about their medical condition, as well as all the medications they are taking, before taking or injecting magnesium therapy. .
4. Interactions with magnesium
Caution should be exercised when taking magnesium at the same time as some of the following medicines:
Antibiotics: Taking magnesium with some antibiotics can decrease the amount of medicine the body absorbs or cause muscle problems corn. To avoid reducing the effectiveness of the drug, antibiotics should be taken at least 2 hours before or 4-6 hours after magnesium supplementation; Anti-osteoporosis Bisphosphonates: Magnesium can reduce the amount of bisphosphate the body absorbs, thereby reducing the effectiveness of treatment. Therefore, bisphosphonates should be taken at least two hours before or after magnesium intake; Medicines for high blood pressure (calcium channel blockers): Magnesium can lower blood pressure, so when taken together will cause a patient's blood pressure to drop too low. Muscle relaxants: Taking magnesium along with muscle relaxants may increase your risk of side effects. Diuretics: Some diuretics can increase magnesium levels in the body, so if taken together, there will be an excess of magnesium. In short, magnesium minerals from fiber-rich food sources are very beneficial for health. Adequate magnesium intake, specifically less than 350 mg per day, is safe for the body and even helps reduce the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and several other conditions. If you can't get enough of this important nutrient from your diet, your doctor may prescribe magnesium supplements to meet your daily needs or help treat certain medical conditions.
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Reference source: webmd.com