Abstract
Hypertension is a complex condition in which various actors and mechanisms combine, resulting in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular complications that today represent the most frequent causes of mortality, morbidity, disability, and health expenses worldwide. In the last decades, there has been an exceptional amount of experimental, epidemiological, and clinical studies confirming a close relationship between magnesium deficit and high blood pressure. Multiple mechanisms may help to explain the bulk of evidence supporting a protective effect of magnesium against hypertension and its complications. Hypertension increases sharply with advancing age, hence older persons are those most affected by its negative consequences. They are also more frequently at risk of magnesium deficiency by multiple mechanisms, which may, at least in part, explain the higher frequency of hypertension and its long-term complications. The evidence for a favorable effect of magnesium on hypertension risk emphasizes the importance of broadly encouraging the intake of foods such as vegetables, nuts, whole cereals and legumes, optimal dietary sources of magnesium, avoiding processed food, which are very poor in magnesium and other fundamental nutrients, in order to prevent hypertension. In some cases, when diet is not enough to maintain an adequate magnesium status, magnesium supplementation may be of benefit and has been shown to be well tolerated.
Highlights
Magnesium is the most present divalent intracellular cation in the human body, and the second intracellular ion after potassium
We have previously proposed a link between the action of magnesium to alter the antioxidant capacity and to increase oxidative stress, inflammation, and lipid oxidation with the possible development of insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, hypertension and cardio-metabolic syndrome [50]
There has been an outstanding amount of experimental, epidemiological, and clinical evidence showing a close relationship between magnesium deficit and high blood pressure
Summary
Magnesium is the most present divalent intracellular cation in the human body, and the second intracellular ion after potassium. Dietary magnesium intake is deficient in a large proportion of European and US populations where Western dietary patterns full of processed food are very frequent [26,27,28,29]. Frequent in old age, has been associated with an increased risk of multiple clinical conditions including hypertension and stroke [3,8,31]. Regarding the actual dietary sources of magnesium, in the USA, where 57.9% of energy intake comes from ultra-processed food [54], a study analyzing data from the National. Participants with a higher adherence to the Western dietary pattern (with greater consumption of red and processed meat, eggs, sauces, precooked food, fast-food, energy soft drinks, sweets, whole dairy and potatoes) were less likely to achieve adequate intakes of vitamins and minerals, including magnesium. 2.5-fold increased risk for having more than ten nutrient intake recommendations unmet, comprising magnesium, when compared to the first quintile of adherence to Western dietary pattern [60]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
