Ergogenic Properties of Magnesium Supplementation

Ergogenic Properties of Magnesium Supplementation

The purpose of the proposed project is to determine if short-term dietary supplementation of magnesium will improve performance during a series of lab-based exercise tests, will favorably modify the gut-microbiota, and will augment skeletal muscle mitochondrial function.

Magnesium is the fourth most abundant mineral in the human body. It is critical to day-to-day physiological function including the regulation of metabolism, cardiovascular function, immune function, and the operation of the nervous system. In light of its important role in physiology, dietary supplementation of magnesium has been purported to improve athletic performance, although the precise mechanism is unclear. The foci of the proposed study is the ergogenic effects of magnesium, its potential influence on gut health, and its potential ability to improve skeletal muscle function. The investigators will be studying an athletic/competitive population of endurance-trained adults. This group is likely to be the most interested in the use of magnesium to enhance athletic performance. Also, by only recruiting habitual exercisers, the variability between participants is likely to be reduced compared with if the investigators had also recruited people who are usually sedentary.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Competitive cyclists
• Adult males and females (18 - 40 years, inclusive) who have exercised a minimum of 5 days per week, for a minimum of 30-minutes/session, during the previous 2 years.
• Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) satisfying the minimum criteria for "Good" (sex- and age-adjusted) as defined by the American College of Sports Medicine.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Identification of a contra-indication to exercise during a 12-lead exercise stress test
• Use of a magnesium supplement within the previous 4 weeks
• Pregnancy or breast-feeding
• Unable to perform vigorous exercise
• History (previous diagnosis) of kidney disease
• Use of laxatives, Zinc, diuretics, proton pump inhibitors, over the counter agents such as certain heartburn and GI/gut treatments (laxatives) which contain magnesium, Zinc or other high dose cations which reduce absorption of Magnesium