Magnesium: Effect on ocular health as a calcium channel antagonist

• Main Authors: Şafak Korkmaz, Feyzahan Ekici, Hasan Ali Tufan, Bahri Aydın
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Modestum Publishing LTD 2013-06-01
• Series: Journal of Clinical and Experimental Investigations
• Subjects: Magnesium; calcium channel blockage; glaucoma; neuroprotection; diabetic retinopathy; cataract
• Online Access: http://www.jceionline.org/upload/sayi/17/JCEI-00691.pdf

Magnesium is the physiologic calcium channel blocker,involving in many different metabolic processes by maintainingcell membrane function, modulating smooth musclecontraction and influencing enzymatic activities. Magnesiumhas been shown to increase blood flow to tissuesby modifying endothelial function via endothelin-1 (ET-1)and nitric Oxide (NO) pathways. Magnesium also exhibitsneuroprotective role by blocking N-methyl-D-aspartate(NMDA) receptor related calcium influx and by inhibitingthe release of glutamate, hence protects the cell againstoxidative stress and apoptosis. Both increase in bloodflow and its neuroprotective effect make magnesium agood candidate for glaucoma studies. Magnesium hasbeen shown to decrease oxidative stress and apoptosisin retinal tissue and to have retinal ganglion cell sparingeffect. A series of studies has been conducted aboutmagnesium could decrease insulin resistance in diabeticpatients, ease glycemia control and prevent diabetic retinopathy.Magnesium is found to be critically important inmaintaining normal ionic homeostasis of lens. Magnesiumdeficiency has been shown to cause increased lenticularoxidative stress and ionic imbalance in the lens so triggercataractogenesis. J Clin Exp Invest 2013; 4 (2): 244-251Key words: Magnesium, calcium channel blockage,glaucoma, neuroprotection, diabetic retinopathy, cataract