Why Magnesium Matters: What Medical Research Tells Us About an Essential Mineral

Magnesium underpins many of the body’s most fundamental processes. Classified as an essential mineral, it is required for normal physiological function and is involved in hundreds of biochemical reactions that support stability rather than spectacle.

In medical literature, magnesium is described not as a performance enhancer, but as a regulator that helps the body maintain equilibrium across systems as varied as neuromuscular function, energy metabolism and cardiovascular health.

Modern diets and lifestyles commonly intersect in ways that cause us to have lower magnesium levels that our minds and bodies need for a life of calm and balance.  Adding magnesium to daily wellness routines is a simple way to address this. VERDEN’s Magnesium Bath Salts and Magnesium Balm are augmented by the 100% natural Nocturne fragrance to make them sensory steps on your path to better sleep and balance.

We have summarised key information from research about magnesium below:

What Is Magnesium?

Magnesium is a dietary mineral found naturally in foods such as leafy green vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes and whole grains. According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), it is required as a cofactor in more than 300 enzymatic reactions in the human body.¹

Magnesium and the Nervous System

Medical research has shown that magnesium interacts with NMDA receptors and plays a role in maintaining normal nerve signalling.²

Muscle Function and Physical Recovery

The NIH notes that magnesium is essential for muscle contraction, nerve transmission and electrolyte balance.¹

Magnesium and Energy Metabolism

Magnesium is required for the formation and utilisation of ATP, supporting efficient cellular energy production.³

Magnesium and Sleep

Clinical trials suggest magnesium supplementation may improve subjective sleep quality in older adults.⁴ Systematic reviews note further research is required.⁵

References
1. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements – Magnesium Fact Sheet
https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Magnesium-HealthProfessional/

2. de Baaij et al., Physiological Reviews (2015)
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25668017/

3. Romani, Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics (2011)
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21640787/

4. Abbasi et al., Journal of Research in Medical Sciences (2012)
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23853635/

5. Nielsen et al., Nutrients (2021)
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35184264/

6. Gröber et al., Nutrients (2017)
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28973933/

Read more:

A guide to the Benefits of Topical Magnesium