A new Australian study has identified why a magnesium-rich diet is so important to our health, reducing the risk of DNA damage and chronic degenerative disorders.
Scientists from the University of South Australia measured blood samples from 172 middle-aged adults, finding a strong link between low levels of magnesium and high amounts of a genotoxic amino acid called homocysteine.
This toxic combination damages the body’s genes, making people more vulnerable to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, gastrointestinal disease, a range of cancers and diabetes.
Whole grains, dark green leafy vegetables, nuts, beans and dark chocolate are magnesium-rich foods that help the body produce energy, build teeth and bones, regulate blood sugar and blood pressure, and ensure that the heart, muscles and kidneys are working. duly.
UniSA molecular biologist Dr Permal Deo says low magnesium intake (less than 300mg per day) can increase the risk of many diseases, but its role in preventing DNA damage has not been fully studied in humans until now .
Our study showed a direct association between low blood magnesium levels (less than 18 mg/L) and increased DNA damage, even after adjusting for gender and age.
Blood levels of magnesium, homocysteine (Hcy), folate and vitamin B12 were measured, showing an inverse correlation between magnesium and hydrochloric acid and a positive correlation between magnesium, folate and vitamin B12. This shows that sufficiently high levels of magnesium in the blood are necessary to protect our genes from homocysteine-induced toxicity, which increases when folate and vitamin B12 are deficient.”
Dr Permal Deo, UniSA molecular biologist
Co-author Professor Michael Fenech says chronic magnesium deficiency is likely to disrupt the body’s ability to produce energy and power cells, causing accelerated tissue aging and making people more vulnerable to the early onset of many diseases.
Magnesium is the fourth most abundant mineral found in the human body. More than 600 enzymes require it as a cofactor, and nearly 200 require it to activate critical processes in the body.
“The next step is to determine the optimal dietary intake of magnesium, whether through food or supplementation, and how this might affect the onset or progression of cancer and other chronic diseases,” says Professor Fenech.
The findings have been published in European Journal of Nutrition.
Source:
Journal Reference:
Dhillon, VS. et al. (2024). Low magnesium combined with high homocysteine increases DNA damage in healthy middle-aged Australians. European Journal of Nutrition. doi.org/10.1007/s00394-024-03449-0.
