Magnesium, a prevalent metal, plays a vital role in the body by activating numerous cellular and biochemical reactions. In the nervous system, magnesium acts as a calming agent. It’s the ninth most abundant element in the universe and the eighth in Earth’s crust.

Below, you’ll discover over two dozen intriguing facts about magnesium, covering its history, chemical makeup, and health benefits.

General Magnesium Information

Magnesium is unstable in its pure form and usually forms a white magnesium oxide coating. In nature, it typically presents as white crystals. Annually, around 320,000 tons of magnesium are extracted for commercial purposes, mostly from seawater where it’s the third most common component.

Historical Facts About Magnesium

• Magnesium was first identified near the Greek city of Magnesia.
• In 1808, Sir Humphrey Davy isolated several alkaline earth metals, including magnesium. He originally named it “magnium” after its oxide, magnesia, but “magnesium” eventually became the standard term.
• Historically, magnesium was used as a remedy in forms like laxatives and Epsom salts. The Epsom spring in England, discovered in the 1600s, was famed for its healing water. In 1695, Nehemia Grew isolated magnesium sulfate from this spring.
• Richard Willstatter won the Nobel Prize in 1915 for his work on plant chlorophyll, highlighting magnesium as a central element.
• Magnesium is frequently used to treat eclampsia in pregnancy and acute myocardial infarction.

Magnesium’s Chemical Composition and Related Properties

• Magnesium has an atomic number of 12, with 12 protons and about 12 neutrons, surrounded by 12 electrons in three shells, with two valence electrons.
• Its atomic weight is 24.3050.
• With only two electrons in its outer shell, magnesium is highly reactive and isn’t found in nature as a standalone element. In seawater, it’s found as magnesium chloride, consisting of one magnesium cation and two chloride anions.
• On the periodic table, magnesium is an alkaline earth metal, alongside calcium, beryllium, barium, strontium, and radium. Strontium and radium are radioactive and potentially harmful due to their similarity to calcium and magnesium.

Magnesium in the Body

• The human body contains about 4-6 teaspoons of magnesium.
• Magnesium is the fourth most abundant mineral in the body and the second most common positively charged intracellular ion. Other positive ions include calcium, sodium, and potassium, while negative ions include phosphate and chloride.
• Only 1% of the body’s magnesium is in the blood; the rest is in bones and cells of muscles, heart, and liver.
• Healthy heart cells contain ten times more magnesium than blood.
• 50-60% of body magnesium is in the crystal mineral lattice of bones and teeth.
• Magnesium absorption occurs mainly in the distal intestine, starting as early as one hour after ingestion in the jejunum.

Interesting Health Facts About Magnesium

• Magnesium is one of six essential “macro-minerals” needed in larger amounts, alongside calcium, sodium, potassium, phosphorus, and chloride.
• The US RDA for magnesium is 420 mg per day for men, 320 mg for women, and 360 mg for pregnant women.
• The average American diet provides just over half of the RDA for magnesium, with 75% of adults consuming less than the recommended amount.
• 19% of US adults consume less than half of the RDA, and magnesium deficiency often goes undiagnosed due to testing errors.
• 7-11% of hospitalized patients and 65% of ICU patients are magnesium deficient.
• The body absorbs only 20-50% of magnesium intake. Many medications can interfere with magnesium absorption and retention.
• Magnesium supplement absorption varies; magnesium oxide has a low absorption rate, while magnesium chloride absorbs better due to higher solubility.

Magnesium and Disease

Low magnesium intake and levels are linked to osteoporosis, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and heart disease.

For more information on magnesium and its health benefits, visit Ancient Minerals, where you can also explore our range of ultra-pure topical magnesium products