How much magnesium do you really need?

10 years ago | Nutrition

By pH health care professionals

By now, there should be no dispute that magnesium is an extremely important mineral for optimal health. Every organ in the body, especially the heart, muscles and kidneys, needs magnesium. It is required for more than 300 biochemical reactions in the body and is the fourth most abundant mineral in the body. Around 50-60 percent of all the magnesium in the body is found in the skeleton, about 27 percent is found in muscle, 6-7 percent is found in other cells, and less than 1 percent is found outside of cells. It is required for healthy teeth and bones, activating enzymes and energy production.

Magnesium deficiency has been associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis and metabolic disorders, including hypertension and Type 2 diabetes mellitus. Preliminary studies have shown that magnesium improved insulin sensitivity in individuals at risk for diabetes. Randomized controlled trials have also investigated the role of magnesium supplementation in the prevention of complications following stroke or heart surgery.

And it’s especially vital for children, too. Magnesium may be just as important as calcium for children’s bone health, according to a study presented at the recent Pediatric Academic Societies annual meeting. Both the amount of magnesium consumed and the amount absorbed predicted how much bone children had.

So how much magnesium do you need?

The recommended dietary allowance (RDA) includes the magnesium you get from both the food you eat and any supplements you take. Dietary sources include green leafy vegetables, unrefined grains, legumes, beans and nuts (find more dietary sources here).

Children

1-3 years: 80 mg/day
4-8 years: 130 mg/day
9-13 years: 240 mg/day

Females

14-18 years: 360 mg/day
19-30 years: 310 mg/day
31 years and over: 320 mg/day

Pregnant

Under 19 years: 400 mg/day
19 to 30 years: 350 mg/day
31 years and up: 360 mg/day

Breastfeeding

Under 19 years: 360 mg/day
19 to 30 years: 310 mg/day
31 years and up: 320 mg/day

Males

14-18 years: 410 mg/day
19-30 years: 400 mg/day
31 years and up: 420 mg/day

Be proactive and speak with a knowledgeable health care professional to ensure you are getting all of the magnesium your body needs to function properly!

Enjoy Your Healthy Life!

The pH professional health care team includes recognized experts from a variety of health care and related disciplines, including physicians, attorneys, nutritionists, nurses and certified fitness instructors. This team also includes the members of the pH Medical Advisory Board, which constantly monitors all pH programs, products and services. To learn more about the pH Medical Advisory Board, click here.