A review of the role of magnesium in poultry nutrition

Magnesium has essential functions in cellular metabolism and bone development. Its actions are closely linked to calcium and phosphorus, making the achievement of the right proportion of these elements in diets an important issue in poultry nutrition. The magnesium requirement of poultry has rarely been studied and most studies conducted are more than 35 years old. Despite the fact that magnesium is adequately present in most plant-based diets, supplemental magnesium may positively affect poultry meat quality and body weight at certain developmental stages. However, excessive dietary magnesium could influence calcium and phosphorus availability and metabolism through different mechanisms. Understanding the effects of supplemental magnesium on the availability and metabolism of other dietary constituents and vice versa is important for formulating balanced diets and achieving maximal performance in poultry. Here we review this complex, insufficiently explored issue.