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Magnesium is an extremely important element for maintaining a healthy heart and efficient blood circulation. The relationship between magnesium and the cardiovascular system is very extensive and involves a multitude of different factors. It can even be said that this system is one of the main beneficiaries of magnesium in the human body. Do you know how specifically magnesium affects the heart? Read the article to the end!
- How does magnesium affect the heart and cardiovascular system?
- Magnesium and cardiovascular drugs
- What kind of magnesium to use for the cardiovascular system?
- Summary
How does magnesium affect the heart and cardiovascular system?
There are many relationships between magnesium and the heart and entire cardiovascular system. Reduced magnesium has been proven to increase the incidence of cardiac arrhythmias, such as:
- accessory contractions,
- atrial fibrillation,
- ventricular tachycardia,
- ventricular fibrillation.
Interesting observations were made in animal experiments. Namely, it was noted that a diet low in magnesium can lead to changes in the structure of the vascular wall similar to those found in hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia.
Low magnesium levels contribute to vascular calcification, connective tissue accumulation in the vascular wall, altered lipid exchange between the vascular wall and blood, increased triglyceride levels, oxalate accumulation in the vascular wall and reduced HDL cholesterol transport.
Epidemiological studies have shown an increased risk of hypertension in populations with low magnesium intake. In contrast, studies analyzing the effects of magnesium on people with hypertension have yielded mixed results - some showing marked improvement, some showing no effect. There are also reports that magnesium deficiency reduces the effectiveness of hypertension drugs.
Researchers report that high magnesium intake significantly reduces the risk of sudden death from cardiac causes, by up to 77%. Orally administered magnesium acts as a natural calcium channel blocker, increases nitric oxide, improves endothelial dysfunction and causes direct and indirect vasodilation.
In brief, the effects of magnesium on the cardiovascular system include the following benefits:
- improvement of endothelial function;
- induction of direct and indirect vasodilation;
- improvement of blood pressure;
- beneficial effects on arrhythmias, inflammatory responses and platelet aggregation;
- potential effect on improving exercise tolerance in patients with stable coronary artery disease;
- improvement of insulin homeostasis and lipid metabolism;
- reduction in platelet activation and thrombosis;
- reduction of cellular ischemic damage by reducing calcium overload in coronary arteries.
Magnesium and cardiovascular drugs
Diuretics are often used in cardiology. Increased diuresis depletes not only the body's water stores, but also electrolytes, including magnesium. Both loop diuretics and thiazide diuretics cause increased renal loss of magnesium and secondary hyperaldosteronism.
Other cardiovascular drugs can also be problematic: digoxin, sotalol, amiodarone, bretylium, quinidine, and the hypertension drugs hydralazine and the combination of ACE inhibitors with HCTZ (enalapril and HCTZ). Each of these can potentially contribute to lower magnesium concentrations in the body.
What kind of magnesium to use for the cardiovascular system?
In principle, any well-absorbed magnesium should give good results. In terms of cardiovascular effects, however, magnesium taurate has the best reputation.
Taurine has several properties that are beneficial to the heart and vasculature, and there is some overlap with the functionality of magnesium. As a finished compound, magnesium taurate may have significant potential as a vascular-protective dietary supplement. In publications on magnesium taurate, the authors suggest that it can also be used for parenteral administration in cases of acute myocardial infarction, as well as pre-eclampsia, as an alternative to magnesium sulfate, which is standardly used in IVs.
Summary
Adequate magnesium levels in the body protect the heart from coronary heart disease and hypertension. Magnesium deficiency, on the other hand, is a risk factor for the heart and vessels. It is worth keeping an eye on adequate dietary magnesium intake, remembering to have a high water supply and to eat nuts, green leafy vegetables, legumes and whole grains. Magnesium supplementation is often useful. Magnesium taurate is considered particularly cardiovascular-friendly, but other organic compounds are also effective (citrate, malate, diglycinate, etc.).
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