An 8-year Analysis of Magnesium Status in Elite International Track & Field Athletes

Abstract

Magnesium plays a critical role in athlete health and performance. It is involved in numerous physiological mechanisms that support energy production, immune function, pain modulation, muscle function and bone health. Athletes may be susceptible to magnesium deficiency due to an increased utilisation during exercise. ObjectiveThis study reports on the magnesium status of 192 Olympic and Paralympic athletes over the course of eight years. MethodsAthletes on the British Athletics world class performance plan undertook blood testing for Red Cell Magnesium status. Their history of tendon pain, muscle and bone injury, ethnicity, sporting event and gender were also recorded. 510 samples from 192 athletes were included in the study. ResultsOn at least one blood test during the study time, 22% of athletes were identified as clinically deficient (<1.19 mmol/L). The average red cell magnesium concentration was 1.34 nmol/L. Magnesium was significantly lower in female athletes and those with Black or Mixed-Race ethnicity and was higher in Throws athletes and Paralympians with Cerebral Palsy. Athletes with a history of achilles or patella tendon pain had significantly lower magnesium levels than average. ConclusionsThis study highlights the importance of investigating magnesium within this population to identify deficiency and mitigate against potential performance reduction or increased injury risk. Several areas for future work are identified to explore the relationship between magnesium and gender, ethnicity and tendon pain and muscle injury in athletes. Furthermore, new guidelines for magnesium status within athletics populations are proposed.

The Influence on Mitochondrial Energy (ATP), Lactate-Pyruvate- and Muscularity-Metabolism (CK): Cellular Magnesium Level and Magnesium Supplementation in Elite Sports

“…The average vMg level of the athletes in our study of 1.37 ± 0.15 mmol/l is also confirmed in the literature as 1.30 -1.34 mmol/l [23]: 1.30 ± 0.16 mmol/l (N=41), Pollock et al ( 26): 1.34 ± 0.14 mmol/l (N=192), [27]: 1.31 ± 0.39 mmol/l (N=114)], whereas in our study female athletes are significantly worse supplied with vMg than male athletes (1.33 ± 0.11 mmol/l vs 1.41 ± 0.13 mmol/l, p=0.024). This is also confirmed by the study of Pollock et al [26] [female 1.33 ± 0.06 mmol/l vs male 1.38 ± 0.04 mmol/l, p<0.05]. In this study [26], athletes with muscularity tendon injury vs athletes without muscularity tendon injury history have significantly worse vMg levels (1.31 ± 0.07 mmol/l vs 1.35 ± 0.05 mmol/l, p<0.05).…”

“…This is also confirmed by the study of Pollock et al [26] [female 1.33 ± 0.06 mmol/l vs male 1.38 ± 0.04 mmol/l, p<0.05]. In this study [26], athletes with muscularity tendon injury vs athletes without muscularity tendon injury history have significantly worse vMg levels (1.31 ± 0.07 mmol/l vs 1.35 ± 0.05 mmol/l, p<0.05). Na et al (28) and Srebro et al [29] demonstrated that magnesium as an antagonist of the NMDA receptor plays an important role in the development of chronic pain as magnesium deficiency leads to amplification and upregulation of NMDA signaling and thus to tendon-muscularity pain in athletes [30].…”

“…The results show that in elite athletes, regardless of the sport, whole blood magnesium (vMg) deficiency (< 1.29 mmol/l) is detectable in 27.1% of cases and finds confirmation by Pollock et al [26] [22% of 192 athletes had vMg deficiency]. The average vMg level of the athletes in our study of 1.37 ± 0.15 mmol/l is also confirmed in the literature as 1.30 -1.34 mmol/l [23]: 1.30 ± 0.16 mmol/l (N=41), Pollock et al ( 26): 1.34 ± 0.14 mmol/l (N=192), [27]: 1.31 ± 0.39 mmol/l (N=114)], whereas in our study female athletes are significantly worse supplied with vMg than male athletes (1.33 ± 0.11 mmol/l vs 1.41 ± 0.13 mmol/l, p=0.024).…”

UEFA expert group statement on nutrition in elite football. Current evidence to inform practical recommendations and guide future research

“…Furthermore, athletes with a history of Achilles or patella tendon pain had significantly lower magnesium levels than average. 138…”

Cellular Magnesium Level and Magnesium Supplementation in Elite Sports: Effect on Mitochondrial Function (ATP), Lactate-Pyruvate- and Muscle-Metabolism (CK)

“…Decreased magnesium intake (below 400mg in men and below 310mg in women per day) is associated with lower bone density, which counts as a risk factor for stress fractures in competitive athletes [16.17]. In addition, intense anaerobic training or competition leads to increased magnesium loss in sweat and urine, resulting in magnesium deficits in up to 40% of cases (8,18,19,26). Targeted correction of proven magnesium deficiencies is significantly associated with increased muscular performance and improved cardio-vascular function in athletes [12,[20][21][22].…”