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Magnesium in Aging, Health and Diseases
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Magnesium in Aging, Health and Diseases

A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Micronutrients and Human Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 September 2026 | Viewed by 4804

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Mario Barbagallo

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Guest Editor
Geriatric Unit, Department of Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, University of Palermo, 90100 Palermo, Italy
Interests: aging; health; diseases; nutrition; magnesium
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Ligia J. Domínguez

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Medicine, Kore University of Enna, 94100 Enna, Italy
Interests: aging; health; diseases; nutrition; magnesium
Dr. Nicola Veronese

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Geriatrics, Internal Medicine Sector, UniCamillus—International Medical University in Rome, Via di Sant’Alessandro, 8, 00131 Rome, Italy
Interests: aging; health; diseases; nutrition; magnesium
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Magnesium (Mg) metabolism undergoes several changes with aging, including reduced dietary intake, impaired intestinal absorption, and increased renal excretion. Mild Mg deficiency is often asymptomatic, with vague or absent clinical signs, making it easily overlooked. However, chronic Mg deficiency promotes oxidative stress by increasing free radical production, contributing to the development of various age-related diseases.

Low Mg levels have been linked to a wide range of conditions, including cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, stroke, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, respiratory disorders such as asthma, depression, psychiatric conditions, Alzheimer’s disease, other dementias, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, bone fragility, and cancer.

Given its widespread physiological roles and potential impact on aging-related pathologies, Mg status deserves careful attention, particularly in older adults. Dietary Mg intake and/or supplementation—including Mg-rich water sources—should be considered in the prevention or correction of Mg deficits.

In this Special Issue, we welcome original research, reviews, and meta-analyses encompassing in vitro, animal, and human in vivo studies. Submissions addressing genetic, epigenetic, and metabolic aspects of Mg, as well as public health strategies for Mg fortification, are strongly encouraged. Our goal is to advance the understanding of how Mg may contribute to health optimization.

Prof. Dr. Mario Barbagallo
Prof. Dr. Ligia J. Domínguez
Prof. Dr. Nicola Veronese
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Nutrients is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • magnesium
  • health
  • nutrition
  • diabetes
  • hypertension

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 1607 KB  
Article
A Comparison of Marine and Non-Marine Magnesium Sources for Bioavailability and Modulation of TRPM6/TRPM7 Gene Expression in a Caco-2 Epithelial Cell Model
by Olusoji A. Demehin, Michelle Ryan, Tommy Higgins, Breno Moura Motta, Tim Jähnichen and Shane O’Connell
Nutrients 2026, 18(2), 324; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18020324 - 20 Jan 2026
Viewed by 1125
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Magnesium (Mg2+) supplements can contain different types of Mg2+ salts, which influence their bioavailability. A highly bioavailable and bioaccessible Mg2+ source is essential to meet requirements for many physiological processes that are fundamental to human health. The objective [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Magnesium (Mg2+) supplements can contain different types of Mg2+ salts, which influence their bioavailability. A highly bioavailable and bioaccessible Mg2+ source is essential to meet requirements for many physiological processes that are fundamental to human health. The objective of this study was to compare the bioavailability of Mg2+ from different sources, with different composition and chemical structure, namely, Aquamin Mg Soluble (seawater), magnesium oxide, commercial magnesium bisglycinate 1, and analytical grade magnesium bisglycinate 2. In addition, the influence of the different Mg2+ sources on transported Mg2+ and expression of TRPM6 and TRPM7 genes in Caco-2 cell monolayers was also evaluated to estimate bioavailability. TRPM6 and TRPM7 are members of the transient receptor potential melastatin subfamily characterized as Mg2+ permeable channels. Method: The study involved analyzing bioavailability of the Mg2+ sources predigested with and without food using the Infogest model prior to application to a Caco-2 cell monolayer in transwells for assessing transport. Mg2+ concentration on the basolateral side was analyzed by ICP-MS, and expression of TRPM6 and TRPM7 genes in the monolayer was analyzed using real-time qPCR. Results: Aquamin Mg Soluble showed significantly higher bioavailability compared to magnesium bisglycinate 2 (p = 0.016) when digested with food prior to application to the Caco-2 monolayer. In the digestion without food prior to the Caco-2 monolayer, there was no significant difference between Mg2+ bioavailability among the tested supplements. The TRPM6 gene was significantly downregulated in Caco-2 monolayers exposed to Aquamin Mg Soluble compared to untreated Caco-2 cells (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The INFOGEST digestion model showed that Aquamin Mg Soluble provides a highly bioavailable form of Mg2+, while the Caco-2 monolayer model also demonstrated its increased bioavailability by the modulation of TRPM6 gene expression. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Magnesium in Aging, Health and Diseases)
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Review

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19 pages, 887 KB  
Review
Novel Scale for Clinical Identification of Adverse Magnesium/Calcium Imbalances: Applications and Perspectives
by Deanna J. Nelson, Andrea Rosanoff and Bodo von Ehrlich
Nutrients 2025, 17(23), 3662; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu17233662 - 23 Nov 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1252
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) are mutual antagonists that interact in a majority of physiological processes. Thus, maintaining a balance between these two minerals is essential for functional homeostasis. Mg deficiency plays a role in the course and severity of a wide [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) are mutual antagonists that interact in a majority of physiological processes. Thus, maintaining a balance between these two minerals is essential for functional homeostasis. Mg deficiency plays a role in the course and severity of a wide range of chronic health conditions. This knowledge, however, has not translated into active incorporation of serum Mg determination as a reliable diagnostic tool for physiological Mg deficit. Methods: Pioneering work by von Ehrlich and Rosanoff has prompted development of a simple algorithm and scale for using serum Ca and Mg determinations to identify subclinical (i.e., “hidden”) physiological Mg deficiencies. This novel serum Mg/Ca–Ca/Mg scale uses determinations of total serum Ca and Mg and their ratios to alert clinicians to avoidable risks associated with chronic latent Mg deficiency. This review applies this scale to 10 published clinical studies reporting the serum (or plasma) ratio between Mg and Ca. Results: In all 10 studies, application of the serum Mg/Ca–Ca/Mg scale diagnosed deficit Mg status more reliably than serum Mg alone. Conclusions: This review provides both illustrations of the value of the novel scale and support for its consideration in clinical practice and Mg research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Magnesium in Aging, Health and Diseases)
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Other

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18 pages, 3296 KB  
Systematic Review
Association Between Levels of Magnesium and Diabetic Retinopathy in Diabetic Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
by Eman A. Kubbara, Sara Z. Hamdan, Tassneem Awad Hajali, Mohamad Y. Rezk and Hamdan Z. Hamdan
Nutrients 2026, 18(7), 1162; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18071162 - 6 Apr 2026
Viewed by 665
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Magnesium is an intracellular cation that plays important roles in metabolism and insulin signaling. The evidence of association between magnesium levels and diabetic retinopathy is limited by small study effects. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aim to update the current evidence. [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Magnesium is an intracellular cation that plays important roles in metabolism and insulin signaling. The evidence of association between magnesium levels and diabetic retinopathy is limited by small study effects. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aim to update the current evidence. Methods: A comprehensive search of PubMed, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, and Scopus was conducted from database inception to January 2026 to identify studies examining magnesium levels and diabetic retinopathy. The pooled standardized mean difference in magnesium levels between type 2 diabetic patients with retinopathy and those without retinopathy was estimated using the “meta” package in R software. Results: We included seventeen studies which assessed magnesium levels in 1100 patients with diabetic retinopathy and 1132 diabetic controls without retinopathy. The random-effects model indicated significantly lower magnesium levels in patients with diabetic retinopathy compared to diabetic controls [SMD = −1.19, 95% CI (−1.68; −0.70); p < 0.0001; I2 = 95%]. Sensitivity analysis retained all studies, and no evidence of publication bias was detected. Subgroup analyses demonstrated consistent findings across geographic regions (Asian versus non-Asian), study designs (case–control versus cross-sectional), and magnesium assay methods except enzymatic method. Meta-regression analysis revealed that year of publication (coefficient = 0.061; p = 0.009) and non-Asian studies (coefficient = 2.376; p = 0.001) were positively associated with the pooled effect size, while the NOS quality score was inversely associated (coefficient = −0.709; p = 0.035). The magnesium levels were significantly lower in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy compared with those with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy using a fixed effect model [SMD = −1.41, (95% CI: −1.83; −1.00); p < 0.01; I2 = 32%; Cochran’s Q statistic (Q = 1.46, p < 0.23)]. The certainty of the generated evidence is rated as low certainty. Conclusions: This systematic review and meta-analysis conclude that magnesium levels are significantly lower in patients with diabetic retinopathy than in diabetic controls without retinopathy. A potential association between hypomagnesemia and the development of diabetic retinopathy in individuals with type 2 diabetes is suggested; therefore, the clinician may check and adjust magnesium levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Magnesium in Aging, Health and Diseases)
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11 pages, 2502 KB  
Opinion
Magnesium and Cancer Immunotherapy: A Narrative Practical Review
by Daniela Sambataro, Giuseppa Scandurra, Vittorio Gebbia, Martina Greco, Alessio Ciminna and Maria Rosaria Valerio
Nutrients 2026, 18(1), 121; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18010121 - 30 Dec 2025
Viewed by 1119
Abstract
Magnesium (Mg2+) has garnered the attention of oncologists due to its wide range of biological functions and frequent use as a complementary or integrative agent. In this study, a concise narrative review of the complex relationships between Mg2+ and immunotherapy [...] Read more.
Magnesium (Mg2+) has garnered the attention of oncologists due to its wide range of biological functions and frequent use as a complementary or integrative agent. In this study, a concise narrative review of the complex relationships between Mg2+ and immunotherapy for human malignancies is presented, in addition to a possible future therapeutic scenario. Pertinent full-text articles were thoroughly examined, and the most relevant ones were selected for inclusion in this review. A significant body of preclinical studies highlights the role of Mg2+ in regulating immune function, particularly in cytotoxic effector cells, underscoring the importance of maintaining adequate Mg2+ homeostasis mainly when immune-modulating agents are used in clinical practice. Whether serum Mg2+ levels influence the clinical outcomes of cancer patients treated with immune checkpoint blocker treatment remains to be fully elucidated. However, over the last decade, an increasing amount of data suggests that maintaining normal or slightly elevated serum levels of Mg2+ may enhance the response to immune therapy and even improve survival outcomes. New potential modulators of the tumor microenvironment and response to immunotherapy, such as injectable gels and metal-based biomaterials, are discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Magnesium in Aging, Health and Diseases)
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