Epidemiology of Low Magnesium Intake and Status

As supported by several epidemiological studies, magnesium intake is suboptimal in a large part of the Western countries population. However, there are some discrepancies between various countries with respect te the Dietary Reference Values for rnagnesium. Current status of the nutritional references established by the international and national organizations will be presented. Sorne of them set Adequate lntake (Al) values instead of Estimated Average Requirements (EARs) and Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDAs), for ail or certain age groups. This is due te the lack of an appropriate biomarker of magnesium intake or status and/or insufficient data that can be used te assess magnesium requirements. ln particular, insufficient scientific evidence is available te relate magnesium intake and status te chronic disease. Severe magnesium deficiency with marked hypoma­gnesemia and characteristic clinical symptoms is rare. However, some studies show a significant prevalence of moderate hypomagnesemia. This supports an increased risk of chronic latent magnesium deficiency. This mild deficiency can cause a wide spectrum of health disorders, that can be considered nonspecific and te be at the cri­gin of progressive severe health deterioration, in particular, cardio-metabolic diseases. ln turn, several pathophy­siological conditions e.g. metabolic syndrome, obesity, type 2 diabetes, stress anq aging related dysfunctions can contribute and deepen chronic magnesium deficiency. Compared with severe magnesiurn deficiency, the diagno­sis of latent deficiency is difficult because of nonspecific clinical symptoms and magnésemia often within reference intervals. Current knowledge and perspectives on biomarkers of magnesium status are discussed