Magnesium in Aging, Health and Diseases.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review of mechanisms and clinical associations without systematic synthesis or primary data
PubMed 33573164 · doi:10.3390/nu13020463
What was done
This is a narrative review synthesizing evidence on changes in magnesium metabolism during aging (reduced dietary intake, impaired intestinal absorption, and renal wasting) and reviewing associations between chronic magnesium deficit and various age-related chronic pathologies.
What was found
The abstract reports no numerical data or quantitative risk estimates. It qualitatively describes associations between mild or chronic magnesium deficits and increased free radical production, non-specific clinical symptoms (such as asthenia, sleep disturbances, and cognitive dysfunction), and major chronic diseases including cardiovascular disorders, type 2 diabetes, dementia, psychiatric disorders, bone fragility, and cancer.
Why it matters
The review outlines how subclinical magnesium deficiency might serve as an underrecognized contributor to oxidative stress and multimorbidity in older adults.
Limits
The abstract provides no study counts, sample sizes, or quantitative meta-analytic data. The claims rely on observational associations and mechanistic reasoning rather than randomized interventional evidence, and the authors state that preventive efficacy requires demonstration in future studies.
Cited by
- supports Magnesium absorption declines with age, and medications that reduce stomach acid interfere with magnesium absorption.