New guide values ​​From the following quantities, magnesium is harmful to health

BfR defines maximum levels for magnesium intake via dietary supplements

Dietary supplements are growing in popularity and most users expect health benefits from them. However, dietary supplements can also lead to health risks because certain substances are added to the body in too high a dosage. To what extent the intake of magnesium via dietary supplements can be harmful to health has been examined by the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR).

A daily maximum of 250 milligrams (mg) in the intake of magnesium on dietary supplements should not be exceeded in order to avoid health risks, so the conclusion of the BfR taking into account recent data. Although magnesium is a vital mineral that plays an important role in many metabolic processes as well as the formation of nucleic acids, the formation of bones, membrane physiology, neuromuscular transmission of stimuli and muscle contraction. But threaten at higher dosages health problems.

Unwanted health effect

"Dietary supplements are in the trend, many people believe that they thus achieve health benefits," says the BfR President Professor. Dr. Andreas Hensel. However, "even the intake of supplements could lead to health risks." The increased intake of magnesium over dietary supplements, in addition to the magnesium intake via the normal diet, for example, could cause diarrhea. Although the symptoms are completely reversible within one to two days and are not a significant health risk for healthy individuals with normal kidney function. Nevertheless, according to the experts, they must be evaluated as adverse health effects.

Food supplements usually superfluous

"The best nutritional strategy is basically a balanced and varied diet with lots of fruits and vegetables," emphasizes Prof. Hensel. These provide the healthy body with all vital substances and in most cases dietary supplements are superfluous. If these are nevertheless used, a maximum daily allowance of 250 mg should not be exceeded in the case of magnesium intake. For injections of up to 250 mg of magnesium per day, in addition to the magnesium intake via the normal diet, corresponding diarrhea were not observed.

Allowed daily maximum is only for adults

The recommendation of the BfR takes up the maximum daily level set by the Scientific Committee on Food (SCF) in 2001, a precursor of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), for additional magnesium intake , However, the 250 mg apply only to persons over the age of four years. For infants under the age of four, no maximum daily allowance can be derived due to missing data, according to the BfR.

Distribute magnesium intake to several receipts a day

Furthermore, according to the BfR, the maximum daily allowance should be distributed to at least two receipts per day, "since in most of the studies that served the maximum intake, the magnesium intake was over two or more servings per day and this is likely to increase tolerability." In the context with the "normal" magnesium intake via the diet, no adverse effects have been observed in healthy consumers so far, the BfR continues. (Fp)