Magnesium
Magnesium is an essential macromineral and electrolyte, required for thousands of biochemical processes within the body. It's important for protein synthesis (it activates 3,751 proteins (Piovesan et al, 2012) and thousands of enzyme systems), metabolic health, cardiovascular health, muscle function, nerve cellular communication, preventing cancer, shrinking tumors, and much more.
Magnesium Deficiency
Magnesium deficiency is very common today among humans and animals. It often goes undiagnosed, and fails to be recognized as the root cause of various illnesses. Chronic or severe magnesium deficiency leads to a wide variety of symptoms and diseases.
It has been estimated that 70-90% of Americans today are magnesium deficient. This is in part due to a highly-processed diet, but is also a result of our soils becoming increasingly more depleted, with pH imbalances and without proper mineral replenishment. The produce our ancestors had access to likely had 4 times the amount of nutrients our produce has today. This decrease in minerals has a tremendous impact on our bodies and how well they function.
Horses are No Exception
The combination of depleted soils, stress, pharmaceutical use, GMO grains and by-products, etc, puts our horses at risk for nutrient deficiencies. Even when feeding a high-quality diet, magnesium is a critical nutrient that can be difficult to obtain in optimal amounts.
Magnesium and Allergies
Low magnesium stores can lead to increased histamine levels and inflammation. Supplementing magnesium glycinate and optimizing the body’s magnesium stores can decrease histamine levels and fight inflammation that commonly occurs with allergies and asthma. It calms the body’s inflammatory response and improves respiratory and lung function. Magnesium also helps relax the smooth muscles that line the airways, opening them up and reducing bronchial spasms.
Magnesium and Cushing's Disease (PPID)
Magnesium works as a prime component of pituitary gland secretions in order to regulate the functioning of other important endocrine glands (adrenal, thyroid, reproductive). Ultimately, proper functioning of the pituitary "master gland" impacts overall hormonal balance, and cortisol (ACTH) and insulin are both hormones. If magnesium is not available, the pituitary gland may not function properly, and the body will likely suffer symptoms of pituitary malfunction.
Magnesium and Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS), Insulin Resistance (IR)
Magnesium plays a vital role in all of the body’s metabolic functions. Low serum and intracellular magnesium concentrations are associated with insulin resistance (IR), impaired glucose tolerance, and decreased insulin secretion. Optimizing magnesium stores can help to prevent the development of IR and help manage IR.
"Intracellular magnesium deficiency may affect the development of insulin resistance and alter the glucose entry into the cell. Magnesium is required for both proper glucose utilization and insulin signaling. Metabolic alterations in cellular magnesium, which may play a role of a second messenger for insulin action, contribute to insulin resistance."
Magnesium and Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy (PSSM/EPSM)
Supplementing magnesium glycinate can support horses with Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy, potentially minimizing symptoms. One can speculate whether a magnesium deficiency is the root, or part of the root cause of diagnosis' such as PSSM/EPSM...
Magnesium and Hyperkalemic Periodic Paralysis (HYPP)
Supplementing magnesium glycinate can support horses with Hyperkalemic Periodic Paralysis as magnesium helps to balance potassium levels in the muscle. One can speculate whether a magnesium deficiency is the root, or part of the root cause of diagnosis' such as HYPP...
"“Magnesium and potassium have a close relationship. Magnesium is necessary for the function of the sodium/potassium pump. If a magnesium deficiency occurs, then pumping sodium out of the cell and pumping potassium into the cell may be impaired. ...magnesium intake can normalize both magnesium and potassium levels in the muscle."
.Magnesium and Cancer
“A complex relationship links magnesium and cancer. Magnesium is a serious cancer medicine because it stabilizes ATP and allows for DNA and RNA transcriptions and repairs. Magnesium deficiency has been shown to be carcinogenic, and in the case of solid tumors, a high level of supplemented magnesium inhibits carcinogenesis. Magnesium repletion has been shown to produce rapid disappearances of the periosteal tumors.“
There are several forms of supplemental magnesium, however, Magnesium glycinate is commonly recognized as one of the safest, most bioavailable forms; trusted for its high absorption rate and usually being very well-tolerated. Magnesium glycinate is the combination of magnesium salt bound with amino acid glycine. Glycine has added benefits due to its calming properties.
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Common Signs of Magnesium Deficiency
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Benefits of Supplemental Magnesium:
