Magnesium: Healthy Blood Vessels = A Healthy Heart

The endothelium is the thin layer of cells that lines the interior surface of blood vessels. These cells are called endothelial cells and line the entire circulatory system, from the heart to the smallest capillary.

Endothelial cells are involved in many facets of vascular function including blood clotting, inflammation, formation of new blood vessels and vasoconstriction and vasodilation, and hence the control of blood pressure.

Endothelial dysfunction is inflammation of the endothelium tissue layer that surrounds blood vessels and the heart. Endothelial dysfunction, or the loss of proper endothelial function, is a distinguishing characteristic of  vascular diseases, and is a crucial early event in the development of atherosclerosis.(clogging and/or hardening of the arteries) Impaired endothelial function is often seen in patients with coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, hypertension and high blood cholesterol levels. as well as in smokers. Endothelial dysfunction has also predicted future negative cardiovascular events.

In a study published in Diabetes Care. 2010 Feb;33(2):304-10., entitled “Relations of dietary magnesium intake to biomarkers of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in an ethnically diverse cohort of postmenopausal women” conducted by Chacko SA, Song Y, Nathan L, Tinker L, de Boer IH, Tylavsky F, Wallace R, Liu S.- Department of Epidemiology and Program on Genomics and Nutrition, School of Public Health, and Center for Metabolic Diseases Prevention, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA., concluded that “High magnesium intake is associated with lower concentrations of certain markers of systemic inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in postmenopausal women.”

Dr. Carolyn Dean, MD, ND notes: “Endothelial dysfunction has been shown to be of significance in predicting stroke and heart attacks due to the inability of the arteries to dilate fully. Which means, the smooth muscles lining blood vessels are in spasm due to magnesium deficiency and remain rigid, driving up blood pressure and causing stroke and heart attacks. According to this study, magnesium reduces inflammation and promotes proper blood vessel function.”

Additionally, “Magnesium prevents blood clot formation and muscle spasms of the heart blood vessels, which can lead to heart attack. One major cause of angina is spasming of the heart’s coronary arteries that are lined with smooth muscles that react to a deficiency of magnesium.

“Magnesium prevents muscle spasms of the peripheral blood vessels, which can lead to high blood pressure, another risk factor of heart disease.

“Magnesium prevents calcium buildup in cholesterol plaque in arteries, which leads to clogged arteries.

“Your body requires magnesium to maintain healthy elastin, which provides essential elasticity in your arteries. Loss of elasticity is a risk factor for heart disease. Loss of elasticity causes inflammation of heart blood vessels, which interferes with blood flow and leads to heart disease.”

PubMed Article…

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