Photo: ©iStock/Stefan Simonovski

(12/17/2025) VA researchers from Washington, D.C., and Providence, Rhode Island, demonstrated taking over-the-counter magnesium supplements was associated with a 19% reduced risk of hospitalization or death in Veterans with heart failure. The study examined the electronic health records of almost 20,000 Veterans newly diagnosed with heart failure, half of whom showed documented use of magnesium supplements, following patients for five years. Magnesium is important for maintaining normal heart rhythm, and people with heart failure are at increased risk of magnesium deficiency. The benefits of magnesium supplementation were especially pronounced for those aged 80 or older and those with sustained magnesium use. The results suggest over-the-counter magnesium supplements could be a low-cost way to improve the health of people with heart failure. (Nutrients, Nov. 25, 2025)