The effect of magnesium supplementation on athletic performance and immunity in athletes

Document Type : Research Paper I Open Access I Released under (CC BY-NC 4.0) license

Authors

1 Department of Exercise Sciences, Faculty of Humanities, Maragheh University, Maragheh, Iran

2 Department of Sports Physiology, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Psychology, Mohaghegh Ardabili University, Ardabil, Iran.

Abstract

Aim: Magnesium plays a vital role in athletic performance and immune function, and its deficiency may negatively impact these parameters. This study aimed to investigate the effect of magnesium supplementation on athletic performance and immunity in athletes.

Method: This semi-experimental study, using a pre- and post-test design, was conducted on 16 active male university students who were randomly divided into two groups: a magnesium supplement group and a placebo group (8 participants in each group). Participants consumed 350 mg of supplement or placebo daily for 14 days. Blood and urine samples were collected before and after the intervention to measure magnesium levels and immune cells. Anaerobic performance was assessed using the Wingate anaerobic test. Data were analyzed using the Shapiro-Wilk test and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) in SPSS.

Results: According to the ANCOVA, a significant difference was observed between the supplement and placebo groups in urinary magnesium levels and WBC count (p < 0.05). However, no significant difference was found in the percentage of leukocyte subpopulations (neutrophils, basophils, eosinophils, monocytes, and lymphocytes) (p > 0.05). Furthermore, a significant difference was observed in mean anaerobic power between the two groups(p < 0.05).

conclusion: This study indicates that magnesium supplementation can significantly increase urinary magnesium levels, improve certain immune markers, and enhance anaerobic power in athletes. However, the effects of magnesium on immunity and athletic performance may depend on the individual's baseline magnesium status and the dosage. Therefore, for optimal results, magnesium supplementation should be individualized based on each individual's specific needs.

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Research in Exercise Nutrition
Volume 3, Issue 3
May 2024
Pages 38-27

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History

  • Receive Date: 01 May 2025
  • Revise Date: 30 May 2025
  • Accept Date: 01 June 2025
  • First Publish Date: 01 June 2025

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