Magnesium and its effects on heart rate
Magnesium is one of the most important minerals in the body, acting as an electrolyte that helps transmit electrical signals. For the heart, magnesium plays a role in regulating the amount of calcium entering heart muscle cells. This helps the heart relax between heartbeats and maintain a stable heart rate.
However, experts emphasize that magnesium supplementation does not mean slowing down the heart rate in normal people. Maglies help maintain a healthy heart rate, but supplementation is only really meaningful for people with magnesium deficiency or arrhythmia, says Dr Andrea Rosanoff, Director of the Magnesium Research Center in California (USA).
In the medical environment, injected magnesium in veins is often used to control rapid heartbeat in patients with atherosclerosis. Many studies have shown that a dose of 2 - 5 grams of magnesium injected into a vein can reduce the average heart rate in acute patients. However, this is a short-term treatment regimen and requires medical supervision.
Conversely, with oral magnesium supplements, the effects on heart rate in healthy people are often unclear. They can provide indirect benefits, such as helping control blood pressure and reducing the risk of arrhythmia, but cannot be considered a "medicine" to lower heart rate.
Risk of deficiency and recommended magnesium intake
According to epidemiological studies, magnesium deficiency is associated with many cardiovascular diseases, including heart disease, heart failure and arrhythmia. People who eat less green vegetables, whole grains and nuts are prone to chronic magnesium deficiency.
Dr. Dennis Goodman, a cardiologist at NYU Langone Health (USA), emphasized: Magnesium deficiency can increase the risk of arrhythmia and high blood pressure. Supplementing the right dose is an important heart protection measure".
Current nutritional recommendations give magnesium a recommended RDA (RDA) of 310 - 420 mg per day depending on gender and age. The maximum intake from supplements should not exceed 350 mg/day if not prescribed by a medical doctor.
Some studies show that supplementing 300 - 600 mg of magnesium can help lower blood pressure slightly in people with high blood pressure or insulin resistance. However, high doses can easily cause diarrhea, abdominal pain, and even dangerous low blood pressure. Therefore, experts recommend that people should prioritize magnesium from natural foods such as green leafy vegetables, nuts, lentils, fish and yogurt.
Magnesium is an essential nutrient that helps maintain a healthy and stable heart rate, but it is not a pharmotherapy that reduces heart rate in everyone. Supplementation should be based on specific health conditions, especially in cases of deficiency or cardiovascular disease. Before using magnesium supplements, people should consult a doctor to be prescribed a suitable and safe dose.
