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The effects of magnesium supplementation on exercise performance
E W Finstad1, I J Newhouse, H C Lukaski
1School of Kinesiology, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada.
Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise
|March 17, 2001
Summary
Magnesium oxide supplementation in active women increased ionic magnesium levels but did not enhance athletic performance or recovery. Further research is needed to explore magnesium
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Nutritional Biochemistry
- Human Physiology
Background:
- Magnesium (Mg2+) plays a crucial role in numerous physiological processes, including energy metabolism and muscle function.
- Assessing magnesium status using sensitive measures like ionic Mg2+ (iMg) is important for understanding its impact on physically active individuals.
- Low magnesium levels can potentially affect athletic performance and recovery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of magnesium oxide supplementation on performance and recovery in physically active women.
- To utilize the advanced measure of ionic magnesium (iMg) to assess magnesium status.
- To determine if correcting low iMg levels influences exercise outcomes.
Main Methods:
- A double-blind, placebo-controlled study involving 32 physically active women with a broad range of iMg levels.
- Participants received 212 mg/day of magnesium oxide or placebo for 4 weeks, followed by a crossover.
- Performance and recovery were assessed using treadmill tests, with blood samples analyzed for iMg, other electrolytes, and metabolic markers.
Main Results:
- Magnesium supplementation significantly increased resting ionic magnesium (iMg) levels compared to placebo (P < 0.05).
- No significant improvements were observed in performance indices (e.g., anaerobic threshold, maximal effort) between the magnesium and placebo groups.
- Recovery markers, assessed through various blood parameters post-exercise, also showed no significant differences.
Conclusions:
- Four weeks of magnesium oxide supplementation effectively raises resting ionic magnesium levels in physically active women.
- Despite improving iMg levels, supplementation did not lead to significant enhancements in exercise performance or recovery.
- The findings suggest that while magnesium supplementation can replete iMg, its direct impact on performance and recovery in this population may be limited.