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Diet
& Nutrition Magnesium
What
is Magnesium?
The adult human body contains
approximately 28g of magnesium.
Magnesium is an essential mineral
which is found in the muscles, soft tissues and body fluids. It works in
conjunction with calcium and helps relax muscles.
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Function
- Necessary for
healthy bone growth
- Helps nerve and muscle tissues
to function
- Helps metabolise proteins and
nucleic acids
- Works on a cellular level in
conjunction with calcium, sodium and potassium
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Signs
of deficiency
- Poor growth in children
- Muscle weakness
- Irritability
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Best
sources
Magnesium is a constituent of chlorophyll and so is widely available in
green leafy vegetables and it is also available in cereals. Meat and
animal produce also contain magnesium but it is not as easily absorbed due
to the simultaneous intake of calcium, phosphate and protein which inhibit
its bioavailability according to the British Government's panel on
nutrition*
*Dietary Reference Values for Food
Energy and Nutrients for the United Kingdom. Department of Health 1991
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Notes
Diarrhoea and vomiting cause the body to lose magnesium and excessive
intake of calcium, protein, vitamin D and alcohol all increase the body's
needs for it as does mental and physical stress.
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This page was last updated on 25 October 2006 15:44:37
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