Nutritional aspects of magnesium metabolism.

The absolute necessity for magnesium in plant and animal nutrition is easily appreciated when one realizes that magnesium is found in high concentration in cells. It is necessary for photosynthesis in plants and for all reactions involving adenosine triphosphate in plant and animal cells. Although it is abundant in nature in general, deficiencies occur in both plants and animals. Human beings need about 5 mg of magnesium per kg of body weight per day. Infants and young children need twice as much. Children and women during pregnancy or lactation require significantly greater amounts than normal adults. Various diseases result in a deficiency of magnesium because of interruption of food intake or intestinal or renal wasting of the mineral.