Macrominerals : Magnesium

About 60% of the body’s Mg²⁺ is in bone, but it accounts for just 1% of the bone mass. The mineral is required by a variety of enzymatic reactions, including phosphorylation by kinases (Mg²⁺ binds the ATP cosubstrate) and phosphodiester bond formation by DNA and RNA polymerases. Mg²⁺ is widely distributed in foods, but the average intake in the United States is below the recommended level. Hypomagnesemia can result from decreased absorption or increased excretion of Mg²⁺. Symptoms include hyperexcitability of skeletal muscles and nerves and cardiac arrhythmias.
With hypermagnesemia, hypotension is seen. [Note: Magnesium sulfate is used in the treatment of preeclampsia, a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy.