The Contribution of Dietary Magnesium in Farm Animals and Human Nutrition

Magnesium (Mg) is a mineral that plays an essential role as cofactor of more than 300 enzymes. Mg in farm animals' and human nutrition is recommended to avoid Mg deficiency, ensure adequate growth and health maintenance. Mg supplementation above the estimated minimum requirements is the best practice to improve farm animals' performances (fertility and yield) and food products' quality, since the performance of farm animals has grown in recent decades. Mg supplementation in pigs increases meat quality and sows' fertility; in poultry, it helps to avoid deficiency-related health conditions and to improve meat quality and egg production by laying hens; in dairy cows, it serves to avoid grass tetany and milk fever, two conditions related to hypomagnesaemia, and to support their growth. Thus, Mg supplementation increases food products' quality and prevents Mg deficiency in farm animals, ensuring an adequate Mg content in animal-source food. These latter are excellent Mg sources in human diets. Sub-optimal Mg intake by humans has several implications in bone development, muscle function, and health maintenance. This review summarizes the main knowledge about Mg in farm animals and in human nutrition.

Automated summary

Magnesium plays a crucial role as a cofactor of over 300 enzymes, and its supplementation is recommended in both farm animals and human nutrition to ensure adequate growth, health maintenance, and optimal performance. Adequate magnesium intake can improve meat quality, fertility, and yield in farm animals, while also preventing deficiency-related health conditions and supporting growth. Having an adequate magnesium content in animal-sourced food is important to prevent magnesium deficiency in farm animals and to serve as excellent magnesium sources in human diets, which is crucial for bone development, muscle function, and overall health maintenance.