In our culture one of the most overlooked problems of physical medicine is the underlying muscular pain and difficulties that take place as a result of magnesium (Mg) deficiency.
Deficiency of any nutrient takes place for two principle reasons:
- Lack of uptake
- Increased loss
To speak to the first issue there are a number of variables that affect the absorption/uptake of Mg:
- Vitamin D deficiency... which is important for the uptake of many ions which are important for neurological function, muscular function, tissue function etc...
- Poor gastrointestinal absorption (age, poor eating habits, etc…)
- Excess saturated fat in the diet
The second issue occurs due to an increased excretion of Mg from the body:
- Increased Elimination...Excess Coffee, Tea, Alcohol, Phosphoric acid (soda), tannins and tannic acid (red wine and tea), distilled water, excess estrogen/low progesterone, protein/purines etc…
- Increased demand such as; prolonged intense sweating, pregnancy, tissue damage etc…
- Intense prolonged stress
Mg is less abundant in the body than Na (sodium), Ca (calcium) or K (potassium) and yet it plays a myriad of crucial roles in electrolyte, hormonal and enzymatic balance with an extremely wide range of repercussions throughout the body, if indeed, it is out of balance.
One of the most important actions of magnesium deals directly with the release of chemicals at the muscular junction. The muscular junction receives input from the nervous system which causes our muscles to fire or relax. Acetylcholine, a chemical found in this junction is released for muscular contraction. Interestingly enough, it is also inhibited by Magnesium allowing muscular relaxation. Thus if there is a widespread Mg deficiency throughout the body tissues, muscles will fire, but because they can not easily relax and become over facilitated or “over tight” over time and will develop the tendency to become achy and easily aggravated.
In addition, proper muscle relaxation and function results in good or better biomechanical function and pliability.
Over the last 50 years of clinical experience at the Kos Chiropractic Centre we have developed the best “recipes” for magnesium supplementation; we offer the best supplements at very good price points, and will give you excellent clinical advice to facilitate your muscular function, muscular pliability, and functional recovery.
For those who are more scientifically inclined the following paper captures the benefits of magnesium.
