MAGNESIUM IN FOCUSNEEDS®

Magnesium Summary

Magnesium is a mineral that must be obtained in the diet in relatively large quantities. Magnesium is required for the function of over 300 enzymatic reactions, including in energy metabolism where it plays a pivotal role. Magnesium is also required for the synthesis of fatty acids and proteins, proper insulin response, and nerve transmission. Magnesium deficiency is not rare, and most Americans ingest sub-optimal amounts. Magnesium deficiency is particularly common in vulnerable populations, including people with gastrointestinal disease. Signs of magnesium deficiency include loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, weakness, anxiety, memory problems, numbness and tingling, tics, cramps, insomnia, seizures, personality changes, and abnormal heart rhythms. Magnesium is an agonist for (turns on) GABA receptors, one of the chief inhibitory pathways in the nervous system, and an antagonist for (turns off) NMDA glutamate receptors, one of the chief excitatory pathways in the nervous system, which also plays a role in neuroprotection. The combination can lead to abnormal inhibitory–excitatory balance with magnesium deficiency, promoting increased over-excitation conditions such as anxiety, hyperactivity, and insomnia. The clinical experience of many physicians, and the generally benign nature of magnesium supplementation, have convinced many experts to offer magnesium supplementation to their patients with a variety of conditions, including ADD/ADHD. Individuals that are more likely to benefit are those who also suffer with constipation, migraine-like manifestations, other varieties of chronic pain, chronic fatigue, restless leg, signs of insulin resistance, indications of reduced inhibitory–excitatory balance (anxiety, hyperactivity, impulsivity, OCD, etc.), a history of regression, or other conditions among the multitudes of health conditions for which magnesium is frequently employed. Magnesium supplements are available over-the-counter in a variety of forms, and some forms are more bioavailable than others. Side effects are rare at usual doses used in supplementation, other than possibly loose stools.

The Details

What Is Magnesium?

Magnesium is a mineral that must be obtained in the diet and is required for life. It is one of the seven essential “macrominerals” that need to be provided by the diet in quantities of at least 100 milligrams per day.

What Does Magnesium Do?

Magnesium is required for the function of over 300 enzymatic reactions, including in energy metabolism where it plays a pivotal role. Magnesium is also required for the synthesis of fatty acids and proteins, proper insulin response, and the transmission of nerve impulses.

What Does a Magnesium Deficiency Appear As?

Magnesium deficiency is common. Dietary surveys consistently show that intakes of magnesium are lower than recommended amounts in most Americans. Magnesium deficiency is particularly common in vulnerable populations, including people with gastrointestinal disease, pancreatic disease, and liver disease. High doses of supplemented zinc without magnesium supplementation can also provoke a magnesium deficiency. Early signs of magnesium deficiency include loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, weakness, anxiety, and memory problems. Additional findings can include numbness and tingling, tics, cramps, insomnia, seizures, personality changes, and abnormal heart rhythms.

What About Magnesium’s Use in Disease?

Magnesium is frequently used as a laxative for constipation, where it is often given at very-high dosing. Other gastrointestinal uses include “clean-outs” in preparation of the bowel for surgical or diagnostic procedures, and as an antacid for acid indigestion.

Magnesium is also frequently recommended for neurological conditions, including ADD/ADHD, autism, anxiety, seizures, and migraine. In ADHD, a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial in 66 children was conducted with a combination of magnesium and vitamin D [PMID 33980185]. On this treatment, significant improvements were noted in emotional problems, conduct problems, peer problems, prosocial score, total difficulties, externalizing score, and internalizing score compared with children on placebo. Another randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of children with ADHD supplemented with both magnesium and vitamin D noted “a significant decrease in conduct problems, social problems, and anxiety/shy scores” [PMID 32089804]. Blood levels of the treatment nutrients also improved. In another combined treatment, this time with magnesium and vitamin B6, improvement was noted on with in terms of inattention, hyperactivity, and aggressiveness [PMID 16846100]. Low levels of red blood cell magnesium were also noted in the ADHD group, which improved on supplementation. Interestingly, in another study [PMID 34474662], children with lower magnesium intake had higher levels of callous-unemotional traits. Of note, FocusNeeds® contains magnesium, vitamin D, and vitamin B6. In adults with ADHD, magnesium was shown to have a significant improvement on rating scores [PMID 32162987]. Finally, in another study [PMID 9368236] magnesium supplementation in ADHD was associated with a significant decrease of hyperactivity and an increase in hair magnesium content.

Migraine is frequently advocated in the treatment of migraine. Some people use magnesium for diseases of the heart and blood vessels including chest pain, irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, high levels of “bad” cholesterol (LDL) , low levels of “good” cholesterol (HDL), heart valve disease (mitral valve prolapse), metabolic syndrome, clogged arteries (coronary artery disease), stroke, and heart attack. Magnesium is also used for treating chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), Lyme disease, fibromyalgia, cystic fibrosis, alcoholism, mania, recovery after surgery, leg cramps at night and during pregnancy, diabetes, kidney stones, a long-term pain condition called complex regional pain syndrome, weak bones (osteoporosis), premenstrual syndrome (PMS), altitude sickness, urinary incontinence, a condition that causes burning pain and redness called erythromelalgia, restless leg syndrome, asthma, hay fever, multiple sclerosis, high blood pressure during pregnancy and other pregnancy complications, to induce more rapid wound healing, and for preventing hearing loss and cancer. Athletes sometimes use magnesium to increase energy and endurance. This is only a partial list, as the use of magnesium is in very widespread use in medicine.

What Form of Magnesium is Best?

Magnesium supplements are available over-the-counter in a variety of forms, including coupled with oxide, sulfate, chloride, carbonate, lactate, orotate, citrate, malate, glycinate, threonate, glutamate, aspartate, argininate, and taurate. Any of the forms complexed with an amino acid or organic acid are often believed to have the best bioavailability, including the glycinate form which is in FocusNeeds®.

What Are the Common and/or Important Side Effects of Magnesium?

Very-high doses of magnesium are routinely recommended for bowel conditions, and this mineral is considered to be generally non-toxic. Side effects are rare at usual doses used in supplementation other than possibly loose stools.

Is There Any Laboratory Testing for Magnesium Deficiency?

Laboratory testing can reveal the presence of a magnesium deficiency, and testing is indicated in specific situations where magnesium deficiency is likely or suspected.

What About Additional Dosing Beyond FocusNeeds®?

Magnesium supplementation requires substantial space in capsules due to higher dosing than needed for most other nutrients, as well as the size of the anion (e.g., glycinate) neede to allow for good absorption from the gut. FocusNeeds® dosing is 4 capsules a day (2 each of components 1 and 2) and increasing the magnesium dosage would have required a fifth capsule daily. Thus, the amount of magnesium present in FocusNeeds® (100 mg of magnesium glycinate = 24 mg elemental magnesium) is less than that in most studies on magnesium in ADHD and other conditions. Thus, you may wish to speak to your physician regarding potential additional magnesium supplementation beyond that provided by FocusNeeds®. Our EnergyNeeds® and SpectrumNeeds® products contain 150 mg and 300 mg of elemental magnesium, respectively, at suggested adult dosing.