What are the roles of magnesium?
Magnesium is a critical cofactor for over 600 enzymatic reactions. It maintains the stability of ATP as well as the tertiary structure of DNA. Given magnesium’s central role in ATP generation, it should not be a surprise that magnesium is important for muscle contraction, relaxation, normal neurological function, and release of neurotransmitters. Magnesium also has a role in DNA replication and repair, RNA transcription, amino acid synthesis, protein formation, and glucose metabolism.
There is evidence that magnesium has a role in insulin secretion, and some clinical trials have shown improved metabolic profiles in diabetics given magnesium supplementation.
