THE IMPORTANCE OF MAGNESIUM SUPPLEMENTATION IN THE CONTROL OF SYSTEMIC ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION AND OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA: DOSE AND INTERVENTION TIME ASSESSMENT

Abstract

Systemic arterial hypertension (SAH) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) share pathophysiological mechanisms related to endothelial dysfunction, sympathetic activation, inflammation, and increased cardiovascular risk. Magnesium has been investigated as an adjunctive strategy because of its role in intracellular calcium antagonism, vascular tone regulation, and metabolic homeostasis. This manuscript critically analyzes the available evidence on oral magnesium supplementation in adults with SAH, with or without OSA, focusing on dose and intervention time. A structured literature search was carried out in PubMed/MEDLINE, SciELO, and LILACS/BVS, with MSD Manuals consulted for clinical background. The most consistent evidence comes from randomized clinical trials and previously published meta-analyses, suggesting a modest but potentially meaningful reduction in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, especially with elemental magnesium doses around 300 to 450 mg/day for at least 8 weeks and in patients with cardiometabolic risk or low baseline magnesium status. In OSA, current evidence supports an association between lower serum magnesium levels and worse disease severity or inflammatory profile, but does not yet demonstrate a robust direct effect of isolated supplementation on the apnea-hypopnea index. Magnesium may therefore be considered an adjunctive cardiometabolic strategy rather than a replacement for established SAH and OSA therapies.