Got Magnesium? Airways, Immune Function, and Overall Health

I like the letters MG. They were my initials my entire childhood and young adult years, before I married. Mg also stands for magnesium. “Magnesium is needed for more than 300 biochemical reactions in the body. It helps to maintain normal nerve and muscle function, supports a healthy immune system, keeps the heartbeat steady, and helps bones remain strong. It also helps adjust blood glucose levels. It aids in the production of energy and protein (source).”

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For the past twenty days I’ve been managing my first ever flare up of asthma. I contracted an illness during my travels to Los Angeles in early-March. I woke up this morning with the word ‘magnesium’ on my mind.

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Magnesium affects inflammation, diabetes, and respiratory functioning. Magnesium is essential to good health. Six years ago, an ER doctor informed me that most people are low in magnesium, despite blood test levels indicating otherwise. The blood tests are poor indicators of what is actually occurring with magnesium saturation at a cellular level. “Up to 99% of body magnesium is stored inside the cells, not in the blood stream, which is why the level of magnesium in the blood does not tell us much (source).”

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Magnesium can be found in dark, leafy green vegetables, nuts and seeds, beans, avocado, bananas, yogurt and dark chocolate. Interesting enough, every single one of those food items have been my main cravings and food staple since I fell ill twenty days ago. In fact, dark chocolate, and my third large bag of nuts, were delivered to my door today. Other foods: edamame, whole wheat, tofu. With my recent research into sex hormones and lung function, tofu seems another good option. I’ve been craving that, too, but ours expired.

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Some of the typical signs which indicate that I need to increase my magnesium uptake include: 1) low magnesium on blood test, 2) muscle aches and leg/toe cramping and restless leg syndrome, 3) nervous twitch in eye, 4) tingling in hands and feet, 5) POTS symptoms. If I double (or triple) my normal dose of magnesium, and my stools aren’t loose the next day, I know I needed the magnesium. I’ll be adding asthma flare up to my personal list. Cravings for carbohydrates and salt can also indicate low magnesium levels (source). Too much calcium intake can deplete magnesium levels, as does sweating and certain medicines.

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“Magnesium sulfate has been shown to be an effective treatment in older children with asthma exacerbations (source).” And Magnesium administration has been shown to promote bronchodilation and to improve lung function in asthma. It also plays an additional role in modulating the immune responses (source).” Magnesium sulfate is a bronchodilator that relaxes the bronchial muscles and expands the airways. This allows increased air to flow in and out of the lungs (source).” Some asthmatics take magnesium as part of their daily regiment. (additional source).

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And what about our immune system? Studies on rats indicate increased immune response with magnesium (Mg) and manganese (Mn). “Immune function was significantly affected in both the high dose Mg and the Mn group (source).” Individuals with underlying health conditions sometimes have low levels of magnesium, e.g. celiac disease, irritable bowel. There are some signs of magnesium deficiency to look out for: 7 Common Signs You Might Have a Magnesium Deficiency.

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Role of Cellular Magnesium in Human Diseases states the following:

• “Many of the patients admitted to hospitals or medical care facilities are unaware of their low magnesium levels. Moreover, because magnesium is predominantly an intracellular cation (>99%), serum magnesium levels remain a poor predictor of tissue magnesium content and availability.”
• “supports the idea of an association between an increase in systemic inflammation and magnesium deficiency.”
• “Many endocrine-related diseases have associations with magnesium deficiency or reduced dietary magnesium intake although the specific underlying mechanisms remain undefined [4]. Among these endocrinopathies, diabetes mellitus type II and metabolic syndrome have been highly correlated to low magnesium levels “

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“Because our metabolism slows down, there is a critical age where magnesium deficiency becomes more obvious than when we are younger. By the age of 70 there are 80% of men and 70% of women who do not get the minimum of magnesium-required amount they should get (source).”

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I am seeing some patterns here with COVID-10: older age group, airways, immune system, high blood pressure, diabetes.

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(Please note I am not a medical practitioner and discuss supplementation of minerals and electrolytes with medical professional.)

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