Magnesium

• Anti-inflammatory - Attenuation of the inflammatory IL-6 response¹
• Smooth Muscle Relaxant - Reduced blood pressure in the post exercise state², Bronchodilator effects in Asthma through intravenous or inhaled routes only³
• Neuromuscular strength may be influenced by a higher dose and duration of Magnesium supplementation with training intensity⁴
• Mood - Magnesium deficiency is thought to contribute to a HPA axis disbalance and associated mood disorders¹
• Bone Healing - Magnesium induces an osteogenic effect in the bone marrow space by activating the canonical Wnt signaling pathway, which in turn causes bone marrow stem cells to differentiate toward the osteoblast lineage⁵

Magnesium plays an important role in many functions in the body. Under normal conditions, dietary intake and GI function, the human body is able to absorb and maintain magnesium at homeostatic levels.

It is thought that magnesium losses through sweat may be greater due to high training volumes in athletes resulting in suboptimal magnesium levels.

Regarding improvements in blood pressure, magnesium plays an important role in muscle contraction and thus correction of deficiency is thought to assist in contract of blood vessels and improvement in blood pressure.

Magnesium and its role in the stress response is not yet clear. Magnesium deficiency is thought to contribute to a HPA axis disbalance and associated mood disorders.¹

https://www.paediatricfoam.com/2017/06/nebulised-magnesium-sulphate-nms-for-acute-asthma-in-children-whatsthe-evidence/, opens in a new tab

Overall evidence is equivocal regarding whether Mg supplementation in the realm of RDIs provides a benefit to recovery in athletes. Further exploration of whether any benefit seen is due to suboptimal baseline magnesium levels is needed, as well as larger sample sizes and studies being conducted in both men and women.

Evidence to this point would suggest supplementation does not offer a performance benefit to trained athletes with sufficient dietary intake. Small scale studies suggest it may improve 1RM and countermovement jumps in trained athletes however larger scale studies needed.

Even with consideration for those with suboptimal dietary intake (due to restrictive diets for body composition, due to food beliefs etc.) diet manipulation likely remains the preferred strategy for correction. Given the difficulty in assessing actual Mg status, possible use of a batch tested multivitamin may assist in achieving RDIs if clinical assessment leads to suspicion of suboptimal intake

• Theoretical side effects of toxicity - include hypotension, muscle weakness, respiratory fatigue and apnoea.
• Current evidence would suggest supplementation does not offer a performance benefit to trained athletes with sufficient dietary intake.
• Small scale studies suggest it may improve 1RM and countermovement jumps in trained athletes however larger scale studies needed.

Where nutritional intake is adequate, and no prexisting bony injury, ingestion of addition magnesium may show little benefit to athletes. The consensus of the group was to maintain classification as Group C supplement. It may be included in a “bone pack in conjunction with Calcium and Vitamin D, to complement bone healing in athletes with traumatic or stress fractures.⁵

1. Dmitrašinović, G., Pešić, V., Stanić, D., Plećaš-Solarović, B., Dajak, M., & Ignjatović, S. (2016). ACTH, Cortisol and IL-6 Levels in Athletes following Magnesium Supplementation. J Med Biochem, 35(4), 375-384. doi:10.1515/jomb-2016-0021
2. Kass, L., Weekes, J., & Carpenter, L. (2012). Effect of magnesium supplementation on blood pressure: a meta-analysis. Eur J Clin Nutr, 66(4), 411-418. doi:10.1038/ejcn.2012.4
3. Bhatnagar, Pallav & Guleria, Randeep & Kukreti, Ritushree. (2006). Pharmacogenomics of ß2-agonist: Key focus on signaling pathways. Pharmacogenomics. 7. 919-33. 10.2217/14622416.7.6.919.
4. Heffernan SM, Horner K, De Vito G, Conway GE. The Role of Mineral and Trace Element Supplementation in Exercise and Athletic Performance: A Systematic Review. Nutrients. 2019 Mar 24;11(3):696. doi: 10.3390/nu11030696. PMID: 30909645; PMCID: PMC6471179.
5. Chu-Chih Hung et al, The role of magnesium ions in bone regeneration involves the canonical Wnt signaling pathway, Acta Biomaterialia 98 (2019) 246–255