A Practical Narrative Review on the Role of Magnesium in Cancer Therapy

Sep 23, 2026

Uploaded by Terk

Magnesium (Mg2+) has drawn oncologists’ attention as a complementary or integrative agent due to its broad biological functions. This review summarizes magnesium’s mechanisms, its multifaceted involvement in carcinogenesis and cancer risk, and key clinical considerations. Mg2+ is essential for ATP production, signal transduction, and DNA/RNA/protein synthesis as well as bone formation. Evidence remains conflicting regarding Mg2+ changes and cancer risk beyond colorectal cancer, while deficiency can promote inflammation, immune dysfunction, hypomagnesemia, and complications related to therapy and radiation damage.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages21

Reading Time53 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Introduction

Magnesium functions and cellular roles

Magnesium transporters and cancer mechanisms

Evidence linking Mg2+ deficiency to inflammation and cancer processes

Review A Practical Narrative Review on the Role of Magnesium in Cancer Therapy Daniela Sambataro 1,2, Giuseppina Scandurra 2,3, Linda Scarpello 4, Vittorio Gebbia 2,5, *, Ligia J. Dominguez 2 and Maria Rosaria Valerio 6 Academic Editors: Debasis Bagchi and Zhenhua Liu Received: 9 May 2025 Revised: 6 July 2025 Accepted: 8 July 2025 Published: 9 July 2025 Citation: Sambataro, D.; Scandurra, G.; Scarpello, L.; Gebbia, V.; Dominguez, L.J.; Valerio, M.R. A Practical Narrative Review on the Role of Magnesium in Cancer Therapy. Nutrients 2025, 17, 2272. [https://doi.org/10.3390/](https://doi.org/10.3390/)[ ](https://doi.org/10.3390/)nu17142272 Copyright: © 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license ([https://creativecommons.org/](https://creativecommons.org/)[ ](https://creativecommons.org/)[licenses/by/4.0/](licenses/by/4.0/)) . 1 Medical Oncology Unit, Ospedale Umberto I, 94100 Enna, Italy; [daniela.sambataro@unikore.it](daniela.sambataro@unikore.it) 2 Department of Medicine and Surgery, Kore University of Enna, 94100 Enna, Italy; [giuseppa.scandurra@unikore.it](giuseppa.scandurra@unikore.it) (G.S.); [ligia.dominguez@unikore.it](ligia.dominguez@unikore.it) (L.J.D.) 3 Medical Oncology Unit, Ospedale Cannizzaro, 95126 Catania, Italy 4 Anesthesia and Intensive Care Unit, Ospedale Umberto I, 94100 Enna, Italy; [scarpello.l@gmail.com](scarpello.l@gmail.com) 5 Medical Oncology Unit, CdC Torina, 90145 Palermo, Italy 6 Medical Oncology Unit, Policlinico, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; [mariarosaria.valerio@unipa.it](mariarosaria.valerio@unipa.it) * Correspondence: vittorio.gebbia@unikore.it; Tel.: +39-330-696205 Abstract Magnesium (Mg2+ ) has gained oncologists’ attention due to its wide range of biological functions and frequent use as a complementary or integrative agent. This review outlines Mg’s actions, its complex role in carcinogenesis and tumor risk, and clinical issues. Mg2+ is essential in numerous biochemical processes, including adenosine triphosphate production, cellular signal transduction, DNA, RNA and protein synthesis, and bone formation. Pertinent full-text articles were thoroughly examined, and the most relevant ones were selected for inclusion in this review. There is conflicting scientific evidence about the relationship between Mg2+ changes and cancer risk, apart from colorectal cancer. Chronic Mg2+ deficiency leads to immune dysfunctions and enhanced baseline inflammation associated with oxidative stress related to various age-associated morbidities and cancer. On the other hand, Mg2+ deficiency is associated with drug or chemotherapy-related hypomagnesemia, postoperative pain, cachexia, opioid-induced constipation, normal tissue protection from radiation damage, and prevention of nephrotoxicity. A balanced diet usually provides sufficient Mg2+, but supplementation may be necessary in some clinical settings. Keywords: magnesium; carcinogenesis; cancer risk; hypomagnesemia; drug interactions 1. Introduction In the last decades, there has been increasing interest in the role of magnesium (Mg2+ ) in many clinical scenarios, including aging and cancer [1–3] . Several diseases have been associated with Mg2+ deficits, such as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases; type 2 diabetes; respiratory airway constrictive syndromes; asthma; depression; stress-related, gastrointestinal, neurologic, and muscular diseases; liver cirrhosis; thyroid and parathyroid gland dysfunction; and cancer [4] . The role of Mg2+ in such a wide range of diseases is not surprising since Mg2+ plays an essential role in numerous cellular and physiological functions. It is involved in more than 600 enzymatic reactions involving ATP transfer, intermediary metabolism, potassium, and calcium transport, and acting as a co-factor in DNA, RNA, protein synth

FAQs

Why is magnesium (Mg2+) considered relevant in cancer therapy?

Magnesium supports numerous biological processes, including ATP production and cellular signaling, and it has complex roles in carcinogenesis and tumor risk. The review also addresses its clinical use as a complementary or integrative agent.

What does the review say about the relationship between magnesium changes and cancer risk?

Scientific evidence is conflicting regarding Mg2+ changes and cancer risk aside from colorectal cancer. The review discusses potential pathways, including chronic deficiency leading to immune dysfunction and inflammation.

What clinical problems can arise from magnesium deficiency in cancer-related settings?

The review links Mg2+ deficiency to drug or chemotherapy-related hypomagnesemia, postoperative pain, cachexia, opioid-induced constipation, and normal tissue protection against radiation damage, including prevention of nephrotoxicity.

Sep 23, 2026

Uploaded by Terk