Magnesium and its physiological function + the corresponding Neurological, Circulatory–respiratory–gastrointestinal & Cardio-vascular symptoms if you are Mg-deficient

MAGNESIUM BASICS – (full paper!)
Wilhelm Jahnen-Dechen and Markus Ketteler
RWTH Aachen University, Helmholtz Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Biointerface Laboratory, Aachen, Germany and Klinikum Coburg, III. Medizinische Klinik, Coburg, Germany

Abstract
As a cofactor in numerous enzymatic reactions, magnesium fulfils various intracellular physiological
functions. Thus, imbalance in magnesium status—primarily hypomagnesaemia as it is seen more
often than hypermagnesaemia—might result in unwanted neuromuscular, cardiac or nervous dis-
orders. Measuring total serum magnesium is a feasible and affordable way to monitor changes in
magnesium status, although it does not necessarily reflect total body magnesium content. The
following review focuses on the natural occurrence of magnesium and its physiological function.
The absorption and excretion of magnesium as well as hypo- and hypermagnesaemia will be
addressed.

“....Conclusions
The chemistry of magnesium is unique among cations of
biological relevance. Magnesium is essential for man and is
required in relatively large amounts. Magnesium is a co-
factor in >300 enzymatic reactions and thus it is essential
for many crucial physiological functions, such as heart
rhythm, vascular tone, nerve function and muscle contrac-
tion and relaxation. Magnesium is also needed for bone
formation and can also be referred to as a natural ‘calcium
antagonist’. However, hypomagnesaemia is rather com-
mon, in particular, in hospitalized patients. Moreover, as
the intake of refined foods increases—as appears to be
the case in developed countries—magnesium deficiency
will most likely evolve into a more common disorder. None-
theless, total serum magnesium is rarely measured in clin-
ical practice. Despite some limitations, the assessment of
serum magnesium concentration is inexpensive and easy
to employ and provides important information about
magnesium status in patients....”

learn more/source: http://ckj.oxfordjournals.org/content/5/Suppl_1/i3.full.pdf+html