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Magnesium & Heart Rate

The key functions of magnesium make it an essential mineral for nearly every organ system. Magnesium imbalances can be particularly damaging to the heart.

  1. Sources

    • Magnesium is a component of chlorophyll, the substance that gives plants their green color. Good dietary sources include: green vegetables (spinach); certain legumes (beans and peas); seeds and nuts; unrefined, whole grains; and "hard" or mineral-rich water.

    Function

    • Magnesium has many essential roles, including: the storage, transfer and use of energy; protein, carbohydrate and fat metabolism; maintenance of normal cell membrane function; and the regulation of parathyroid hormone secretion. Magnesium also lowers blood pressure and modulates blood vessel resistance.

    Normal Values

    • According to Medscape.com, the total body content of magnesium is 2,000 mEq (milli-equivalents). The intracellular concentration of magnesium is 40 mEq/L, while blood magnesium levels normally range between 1.7 and 2.3 mEq/L. Most of the body's magnesium is found in bone.

    Causes

    • Hypomagnesemia (low blood magnesium level) is most often associated with renal losses or nutrient malabsorption. On the other hand, the most common cause of hypermagnesemia (high blood magnesium) is renal failure.

    Hypomagnesemia

    • Hypomagnesemia can cause cardiac arrhythmias (disturbances in heart rates), such as ventricular tachycardia (fast heart rate) and ventricular fibrillation (uncoordinated contraction of the heart muscle). It may also be associated with irregular pulses and palpitations (pounding heartbeat).

    Hypermagnesemia

    • Excessive blood magnesium levels slow the heart rate and can cause severe hypotension (low blood pressure). According to Medscape.com, levels greater than 7 mmol/L can cause a complete heart block (problem with the heart's electrical system), leading to cardiac arrest.

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