<p><strong>Pharmacology</strong>: Magnesium is the second most abundant intracellular divalent cation and is a cofactor for more than 300 metabolic reactions in the body. These processes include protein synthesis, cellular energy production and storage, cell growth and reproduction, DNA and RNA synthesis, and stabilization of mitochondrial membranes. Magnesium is one of the minerals responsible for managing bone metabolism, nerve transmission, cardiac excitability, neuromuscular conduction, muscular contraction, vasomotor tone, and blood pressure. Magnesium also plays a significant role in glucose and insulin metabolism, mainly through its impact on tyrosine kinase activity, phosphorylase b kinase activity, and glucose transporter protein activity. Because of these vital roles, magnesium levels may be affected by stressors to the body, such as in certain disease states. Supplementation with magnesium may have therapeutic effects in these situations.<br />
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<strong>Pharmacokinetics</strong>: Absorption of a micronutrient as Mg is affected by other nutrients and reaches an estimated 30&ndash;50% of dietary Mg intake at basal conditions, while the absorption fraction declines with age and raising Mg intake. The drug absorption depends on both the kind of Mg salt and other food elements that may either augment or abate it. The distribution&nbsp;of Mg is mainly intracellular, &lt;1% circulates in the blood (both extracellularly and intracellularly), and total serum Mg comprises three states with roughly 60% ionized, 33% protein-bound and 7% anion complexed. Elimination of Mg is handled by renal filtration with 25% being reabsorbed in the proximal convoluted tubule and further 50&ndash;60% is reabsorbed in the loop of Henle. Around 70&ndash;80% of plasma Mg undergoes glomerular filtration, but merely 3% is eventually excreted in the urine.</p>