Under the supervision of the Dean of the College of Pharmacy, Professor Dr. Sarmed H. Kadhem Al-Khateeb, the Scientific Affairs Unit at the College of Pharmacy/ University of Baghdad, held an in-person workshop entitled “The Biomedical Importance of Magnesium” delivered by Lecturer Dr. Zahraa Mohammed Ali, a faculty member in the Clinical laboratory Sciences Department.
The workshop aimed to introduce magnesium and its concentrations in the human body, clarify its vital role as a cofactor for numerous enzymes involved in metabolism, protein synthesis, and immunity, and highlight the importance of maintaining normal magnesium levels to prevent deficiency-related health problems.
It covered several key topics, including the presence of magnesium in body tissues and its biochemical functions, the various forms of magnesium supplements and the differences among them, and the main dietary sources rich in magnesium available in Iraqi and global markets. The workshop also discussed the impact of modern agricultural and food-processing methods on reducing magnesium content in foods, as well as current causes of magnesium deficiency such as the use of purified table salt and filtered drinking water and the shift from healthy diets toward fast food.
The workshop concluded by emphasizing the need to raise awareness about the significance of magnesium and its essential biological roles, encouraging the selection of magnesium-rich foods and minimizing processed food consumption, promoting the adoption of a balanced and healthy diet to prevent deficiency, and ensuring the proper and moderate use of supplements only when medically necessary.
