Magnesium is the fourth most abundant mineral in the body. Somewhat more than half of the body's total magnesium is present in bone, with almost all of the rest inside muscle and other soft tissues (1). Only 1% of magnesium is present in the blood. Magnesium is involved in >300 biochemical reactions in the body and is crucial to nerve transmission, muscle contraction, vasomotor tone, and bone metabolism (2). In addition, magnesium plays an important role in the regulation of blood pressure and glucose and insulin metabolism (2). Epidemiologic studies have associated a low magnesium intake with adverse health outcomes such as insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, inflammation, cardiac arrhythmias, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) (2-5). Foods rich in magnesium include whole grains, legumes, nuts, and green leafy vegetables.
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