About Magnesium (erythrocyte)

Magnesium, when measured in erythrocytes, reflects the body's cellular magnesium status. It indicates overall magnesium sufficiency or deficiency.

Magnesium participates in more than 300 metabolic reactions. Its role is essential in energy production, nucleic acid and protein synthesis, cell signaling, ion transport and various structural forms in the skeleton, cell membranes, mitochondria and chromosomes.

The overall health benefits of adequate magnesium intake are as follows:
• It improves overall physical performance.
• It decreases the levels of silent inflammation.
• It prevents metabolic syndrome.
• It prevents preeclampsia during pregnancy.
• It promotes normal glucose metabolism and insulin
sensitivity.
• It lowers blood pressure.
• It may relieve asthma symptoms.
• It can prevent migraines in people with magnesium
deficiency.
• It can relieve and prevent stress, depression and anxiety.
• It can improve the quality of sleep.
• It can prevent the development of ADHD.
• It can prevent the development of Alzheimer's disease
and loss of cognitive ability.
• It may prevent muscle cramps in some cases.
• It may facilitate and improve bowel movements.
• It acts as an essential mineral for intestinal surface cells.

Athletes lose magnesium through sweat and urine; a higher intake is recommended than sedentary persons. Exercising in hot environments, which leads to more sweating, also increases the need for magnesium. Magnesium supports the body against the stress of exercise and may prevent muscle spasms and cramps during intense training or competition.

Below are listed the foods that are highest in magnesium:
• Cocoa powder, raw cocoa is recommended (520 mg / 100 g)
• Hemp seeds (483 mg / 100 g)
• Dried seaweed (470–610 mg / 100 g)
• Brazil nuts (376 mg / 100 g)
• Almonds (278 mg / 100 g)
• 80 % dark chocolate (260 mg / 100 g), raw chocolate contains even more magnesium, no statistical data available
• Pine nuts (251 mg / 100 g)
• Oat bran (230 mg / 100 g)
• Walnuts (160 mg / 100 g)
• Oatmeal (142 mg / 100 g)
• Rose hip (104 mg / 100 g)
• Common nettle (86 mg / 100 g)
• Chard and spinach (59 mg / 100 g)

Biostarks reference ranges for intra-cellular magnesium

Magnesium (erythrocytes) (Mg-RBC-S): 250-480 ug/gHb

Scientific references:

Higdon, J. & Delage, B. (2018). Magnesium. The Linus Pauling Institute’s Micronutrient Information Center (MIC).
Dahl, C. et al. (2013). Nationwide data on municipal drinking water and hip fracture: could calcium and magnesium be protective? A NOREPOS study. Bone 57 (1): 84–91.
Higdon, J. & Delage, B. (2018). Magnesium. The Linus Pauling Institute’s Micronutrient Information Center (MIC).
Kamal, P. (2021). Magnesium Supplement Information. Examine.com.
Gröber, U. & Schmidt, J. & Kisters, K. (2015). Magnesium in Prevention and Therapy. Nutrients 7 (9): 8199–8226.
Gröber, U. & Schmidt, J. & Kisters, K. (2015). Magnesium in Prevention and Therapy. Nutrients 7 (9): 8199–8226.
Seelig, M. (1964). The requirement of magnesium by the normal adult: summary and analysis of published data. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 14 (6): 342–390.
Gröber, U. & Schmidt, J. & Kisters, K. (2015). Magnesium in Prevention and Therapy. Nutrients 7 (9): 8199–8226.
Johnson, S. (2001). The multifaceted and widespread pathology of magnesium deficiency. Medical Hypotheses 56 (2): 163–170.
Deng, X. et al. (2013). Magnesium, vitamin D status and mortality: results from US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2001 to 2006 and NHANES III. BMC Medicine 11: 187.