Magnesium functions – the role of magnesium in human body

Magnesium is the fourth most common cation in the human body and the second most abundant intracellular cation in the human body. The human body contains approximately 24g (1000mmole) of magnesium and it is involved in many intracellular processes and is very essential for life. Metabolic irregularity or disturbance is associated with various abnormalities. The main sources of magnesium are vegetables, soybeans, nuts, whole grain cereals, eggs, and seafood. The minimum daily dietary magnesium intake to maintain magnesium balance in a normal person is about 240mg per day.

Magnesium functions – Co-factor and agitator of many enzymes

Magnesium plays an important role in the functions of more than 300 enzymes, Na⁺. K⁺ ATPase, hexokinase, choline esterase. It actively participates in many metabolic activities in the body. Magnesium helps to metabolize proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and nucleic acid. Magnesium is also vital in regulating the cellular distribution of sodium and potassium through involvement in Na⁺, K⁺ ATPase.

Magnesium functions -Maintains irritability of the cells

Magnesium acts as an inhibitor to the central nervous system, neuromuscular and cardiac muscles. For neuromuscular irritability magnesium and calcium are synergic and for cardiac muscles they are the antagonist.

Magnesium functions – Maintains homeostasis of cells

Magnesium is an essential cofactor in correlative enzymes of DNA, cell cycle and apoptosis. In plasma, magnesium is important for maintaining DNA structure and veracity of DNA replication and activating DNA repairing including nucleotide excision repair, base excision repair, miss match repair, and microtubule assembly.