Magnesium (Mg) is an essential mineral that plays a critical role in the human body. It is involved in energy metabolism and helps maintain normal muscle function. Several studies have evaluated the relationship between Mg status/supplementation and exercise performance and found that Mg requirements increased as individuals’ physical activity levels increased. Animal studies have shown that Mg can improve exercise performance by improving glucose availability in the brain, muscles and blood; and reducing/delaying lactate accumulation in muscle. Most human studies have focused on physiological effects on blood pressure, heart rate and maximal oxygen uptake (VO₂max) rather than direct functional performance. Some cross-sectional studies have shown a positive association between Mg status and muscle performance, including grip strength, lower leg strength, knee extension torque, ankle extension force, maximal isometric trunk flexion, rotation, and jumping performance. In addition, results from intervention studies have shown that magnesium supplementation can lead to improvements in functional measures such as quadriceps torque. In addition, Mg supplementation can improve gait speed and time to sit in elderly women. This comprehensive review summarized the literature from animal and human studies and aimed to evaluate the scientific evidence for Mg status/supplementation in relation to exercise performance.
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28846654/
