PROVO, Utah–Researchers at Brigham Young University found a possible association between a modestly lower risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in men and increased magnesium intake (J Am Acad Nurse Pract. 2009 Dec;21(12):651-7). They concluded it is reasonable to encourage diets high in magnesium as a potential means to lower the risk of CVD.
In the review, researchers studied randomized control clinical trial (RCT) literature and prospective studies for the safety and efficacy of magnesium supplements in patients with CVD or with CVD risk. They found a modest relationship between dietary magnesium intake and a reduced risk of CVD in male subjects; however, no decrease was noted in the development of CVD disease in women who had high magnesium intake.
They found subjects who reported lower dietary magnesium intake had significantly lower serum magnesium concentrations than those who reported higher dietary magnesium intake. They found no reports of adverse effects from magnesium supplementation in any of the studies.