The FDA on Jan. 10 announced in a letter of enforcement discretion that it does not intend to object to the use of qualified health claims regarding the consumption of magnesium and a reduced risk of high blood pressure (hypertension).
Meaning: Magnesium has a qualified health claim for heart-health. 420mg is the current recommended daily value for adults and children over 4, although there are some qualifiers. Good food sources are nuts, green leafy vegetables, legumes and whole grains.
The FDA responded to a 2016 petition submitted by The Center for Magnesium Education and Research, which proved the connection between magnesium consumption and a reduced risk of high blood pressure.
Qualified health claims are supported by scientific evidence, but do not meet the more rigorous “significant scientific agreement” standard required for an authorized health claim.
The agency specifically suggested the following qualified health claims for conventional foods and dietary supplements:
* “Inconsistent and inconclusive scientific evidence suggests that diets with adequate magnesium may reduce the risk of high blood pressure (hypertension), a condition associated with many factors.”
* “Consuming diets with adequate magnesium may reduce the risk of high blood pressure (hypertension). However, the FDA has concluded that the evidence is inconsistent and inconclusive.”
* “Some scientific evidence suggests that diets with adequate magnesium may reduce the risk of high blood pressure (hypertension), a condition associated with many factors. The FDA has concluded that the scientific evidence supporting this claim is inconsistent and not conclusive.”
