Magnesium Helps Reduce Heart Failure in Women

Recent studies have examined the relationship between magnesium and the risk of Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD). Researchers observed more than 88,000 women who were monitored for 26 years. Results showed that the relative risk for sudden cardiac death was significantly lower in women when magnesium intake was increased.

The study, published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found that women with the highest blood levels of magnesium had a 41% lower risk of sudden cardiac death. As the researchers state: “In this prospective cohort of women, higher plasma concentrations and dietary magnesium intakes were associated with lower risks of SCD. If the observed association is causal, interventions directed at increasing dietary or plasma magnesium might lower the risk of SCD.”

The human body uses magnesium to perform more than 300 biochemical responses, including those that maintain regular muscle and nerve function and keep heart rhythm stable.

Sudden cardiac death often happens because the electrical impulses in the heart become fast and chaotic, leading to an arrhythmia that causes the muscles to abruptly cease their contractions. Magnesium is an anti-arrhythmic, meaning it helps to suppress any unusual heart rhythms, in turn lowering the risk of SCD.

Surveys suggest that many Americans do not get enough magnesium from their diets alone. The National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements states: ” … dietary surveys suggest that many Americans do not get recommended amounts of magnesium … there is concern that many people may not have enough body stores of magnesium because dietary intake may not be high enough. Having enough body stores of magnesium may be protective against disorders such as cardiovascular disease and immune dysfunction.”

To obtain enough magnesium, first be sure to have a balanced diet including green leafy vegetables, beans, nuts, and seeds. Those who find that these items are not a part of their regular eating or who are especially concerned with maintaining consistent intake of this important  nutrient may wish to consider a magnesium supplement.