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Latest article: Magnesium deficiency: DNA damage, ageing and chronic disease
Date
09 Jan 2025
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Despite magnesium's importance for health, it is estimated that only one-third of Australian individuals over the age of two meet the recommended daily intake (RDI) for magnesium.1
Magnesium is the fourth most abundant mineral in the body2 with total body amount varying between 22-26 grams.3 The RDI for adults in Australia is estimated at between 310 mg/d for females aged 19-30 yrs and 320 mg/day for women aged 31-70 yrs.4 For men aged between 19-30 years an RDI of 410mg/d is suggested, increasing slightly to 420 mg/day for men 30-70 years.4 Under normal conditions, humans require a daily intake between 3.6 and 7 mg/kg to maintain their magnesium balance.5,6
Key highlights
- Magnesium deficiency is common in the Australian population (Table 1).
- Magnesium is vital for the stability of telomeres – the protective “caps” at the end of chromosomes.
- Magnesium deficiency is associated with shorter telomeres and increased telomere attrition rate. Generally, longer telomeres and a slower telomere attrition rate are associated with longevity.
- Low magnesium in conjunction with high homocysteine and less sleep (<7 hours) has been shown to accelerate telomere shortening in healthy elderly Australians (Figure 2).
- Magnesium deficiency on its own or in conjunction with high homocysteine increases DNA damage and accelerates ageing (Figure 3).
- Replenishing magnesium levels may play an important role in stabilising telomeres, preventing DNA damage and decreasing the risk of age-related diseases.
Higher magnesium requirements are needed in some physiologic conditions such as pregnancy, ageing, inflammatory bowel diseases and type-2 diabetes.7
Magnesium deficiency is more common in females than males, which is in part influenced by the ability of oestrogen to regulate magnesium levels. 8