A 2006 report from the World Health Organization estimated that 75% of adults consume a diet that is deficient in magnesium. One in five adults consumes less than half of the U.S. RDA for magnesium. A study by scientists at the Centers for Disease Control, published in the Journal of Nutrition, explains: Magnesium is an essential element that is crucial to hundreds of physiologic processes in humans. Not surprisingly, inadequate intake of magnesium has been linked to various adverse health outcomes, including the development of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and headaches. Furthermore, magnesium is important in bone growth and may play a role in athletic performance. Marita Dowsett, B.P.T. Physio4U, Physio4u.net