Can magnesium lower blood pressure?

Caution with magnesium effervescent tablets. These usually contain a lot of sodium, which can lead to an increase in blood pressure.

In the search for means to lower blood pressure, one often comes across the statement that magnesium is capable of doing so. We took a closer look at the studies on this topic to find out whether magnesium actually has a blood pressure-lowering effect.

The short answer is: Maybe, because certain conditions must be met to achieve a reduction in blood pressure through magnesium intake.

Unfortunately, there is a lack of truly significant studies. The existing studies mostly included relatively few participants. Often, it was also not recorded whether there was a magnesium deficiency at the beginning. However, this seems to be crucial in determining whether blood pressure decreased with magnesium administration or not.

To achieve a blood pressure-lowering effect through magnesium intake, two conditions had to be met: The participant had to have elevated blood pressure and simultaneously suffer from a magnesium deficiency.

The studies showed an influence of magnesium on blood pressure primarily in the presence of magnesium deficiency. In participants with normal magnesium levels at the beginning of the study, there was little to no change in blood pressure. Even in study participants with normal blood pressure, magnesium administration could not further lower it.

A meta-analysis published in 2021 of over 200 studies on the effects of magnesium also concluded that magnesium can only show a blood pressure-lowering effect under certain conditions in specific individuals. The prerequisite is that the person has untreated hypertension or hypertension that cannot be controlled with treatment, and also has a certain magnesium deficiency. In this case, high doses starting from 600 can lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Some of the included studies observed a reduction in blood pressure in participants with inadequately treated hypertension even at lower magnesium dosages, provided they continued to take the prescribed antihypertensives.

This analysis also points out the promising but sometimes contradictory results of the included studies.

There is also a need to highlight the risk of magnesium overdose from supplements or medications and their possible consequences. Excess magnesium can lead to gastrointestinal problems and diarrhea, paralysis symptoms that can also affect the respiratory muscles, and heart rhythm disturbances up to cardiac arrest in very high overdoses. Fortunately, this is hardly achievable with normal tablet intake. Patients with severe kidney dysfunction are at greater risk here, as they can reach high magnesium levels more quickly due to reduced excretion through the kidneys. The risk of overdose must be emphasized, especially in light of a study that demonstrated a blood pressure-lowering effect with much higher doses of magnesium than the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) and consumer centers recommend as the daily maximum dose.

It is considered unlikely to take too much magnesium purely through food.

Conclusion:

Professional societies are discussing magnesium on social media.

Overall, there are promising indications that, under certain conditions, magnesium can lower blood pressure. This applies when the patient has a low magnesium level and simultaneously has untreated or inadequately treated hypertension. If hypertension is well controlled with medication or if there is no elevated blood pressure, magnesium cannot lower blood pressure. Similarly, studies show that if the person has a normal magnesium level.

Professional societies are also discussing magnesium for blood pressure reduction on social media. Here, it is important not only to notice the headlines but also to read the more detailed descriptions. Otherwise, a false impression may persist, which unfortunately becomes entrenched.

Note: Caution is advised with magnesium effervescent tablets. These usually contain, like other effervescent preparations, a lot of sodium, which can lead to an increase in blood pressure.

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Sources:

This article comes from BloodPressureDB – the leading app since 2011 that helps hundreds of thousands monitor their blood pressure every day. Our content is based on carefully researched, evidence-based data and is continuously updated (as of 02/2024).

Author Sabine Croci is a qualified medical assistant with many years of experience in internal medicine and cardiology practices as well as in outpatient care, and has led BloodPressureDB's specialist editorial team since 2015. Thanks to her extensive additional qualifications as a paramedic, first responder and in various therapy and emergency areas, she provides solid, practical and reliably reviewed information.