FIGURE 4.

Magnesium (Mg²⁺), immune system, and oxidative stress (OS). (a) Mg²⁺ deficiency related to the immune system produces the (1) low expression of the natural killer (NK) activator receptor (NKG2D) on the T CD8⁺ cells, promoting a mild or no anti‐inflammatory response to viruses. Consequently, a cytokine storm is triggered. (2) Moreover, circulating inflammatory cells augment, inducing the production of interleukin (IL) 6 (IL‐6), IL‐1β, tumoral factor‐alpha (TNF‐α), and complement system C3. (3) Mg²⁺ deficiency induces lipid peroxidation, which activates nuclear factor kappa B (NF‐κB). Mg²⁺ also induces oxidative stress by promoting (1) electron transfer system (ETS) interruption, generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Furthermore, (2) the production of antioxidant enzymes is deficient, and (3) glutathione (GSH) is depleted because of anormal Mg²⁺ levels. (4) Mg²⁺ deficiency is also associated with metabolic syndrome and low‐grade chronic inflammation, such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases