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Meg Mangin R.N.
Research Team
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Posted: Mon Oct 31st, 2005 22:45 |
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Is it okay to take magnesium?
Magnesium supplementation is often suggested to palliate certain symptoms but we have not seen a great deal of success with this tactic. We do not advocate or forbid magnesium supplementation. Although it is rare to develop hypermagnesia, it can occur in the presence of kidney dysfunction or gastrointestinal disorders. A high level of serum magnesium can also lower blood pressure in someone whose B/P is already low.
According to one reference:
"Magnesium is an essential mineral. Its chief function is to activate certain enzymes, especially those related to carbohydrate metabolism. Another role is to maintain the electrical potential across nerve and muscle membranes. It is essential for proper heartbeat and nerve transmission. Magnesium controls many cellular functions. It is involved in protein formation, DNA production and function and in the storage and release of energy in ATP.
Magnesium is closely related to calcium and phosphorus in body function. The average adult body contains approximately one ounce of magnesium. It is the fifth mineral in abundance within the body--behind calcium, phosphorus, potassium and sodium.
Although about 70 percent of the body's magnesium is contained in the teeth and bones, its most important functions are carried out by the remainder which is present in the cells of the soft tissues and in the fluid surrounding those cells."
Since magnesium function is closely related to calcium function, it is not surprising that it may be too high or too low in patients with Th1 inflammation. Because the accuracy of hair analysis is often called into question and magnesium serum levels do not accurately reflect the tissue concentration, it is difficult to know if magnesium levels are normal or not.
Magnesium supplementation may affect immune system function
Dr. Marshall is currently researching the effect of magnesium on the immune system. Early evidence suggests it interferes with immune function. Thus, supplementing could reduce immunopathology resulting in a symptom reduction. Take only enough magnesium to palliate intolerable symptoms.......not routinely.
"I am still working on more fully understanding the effect of magnesium on the D metabolism. This will take weeks or months, not hours, to explore.
As we instruct in our FAQ on "how to read scientific studies" I have chased up the fulltext for the main article you cite, and I have followed the authors' two citations which allege to describe the D and Mg interactions. As usual, I found the results of the key earlier study to have been mis-reported by the study you cited.
However, the earlier study,
Possible alterations of the in vivo 1,25(OH)2D3 synthesis and its tissue distribution in magnesium-deficient rats. PMID: 7669505
showed that as Mg was supplemented, the level of 1,25-D rose. This is not good. Not good at all. Especially as the basal level, 95pmol, was already a slightly high (for humans) value. I am not sure about the expected 1,25-D level in healthy rats, details like this are what take time to hunt down.
So please be really careful with Mg intake. It is apparently not benign, and its effects are probably a lot more complex than most people care to contemplate. ..Trevor.. July 08
Hypermagnesia
Hypermagnesemia (high magnesium) is rare and usually related to poor renal function. If you are concerned, ask your doctor to check your serum level and kidney function.
According to this emedicine tutorial on hypermagnesemia:
"Hypermagnesemia is an uncommon clinical finding, and symptomatic hypermagnesemia is even less common. This disorder has a low incidence of occurrence because the kidney is able to eliminate excess magnesium by rapidly reducing its tubular reabsorption to almost negligible amounts.
"People often take magnesium-containing medications (eg, antacids, laxatives, rectal enemas). Hypermagnesemia can develop after treatment of drug overdoses with magnesium-containing cathartics, and it also occurs in patients taking magnesium-containing medications for therapeutic purposes; however, most of these patients have abnormal renal function. If the patient does not ingest a large amount of magnesium but has a gastrointestinal disorder (eg, gastritis, colitis, gastric dilation), absorption may increase.
In any case, monitoring serum magnesium levels in patients taking magnesium-containing medications is prudent..... A moderate increase in serum magnesium can lead to a mild decrease in blood pressure, and a greater concentration may cause severe symptomatic hypotension."
Testing magnesium levels
"Serum levels are poor indicators of magnesium levels as most is intracellular. Elevated serum magnesium indicates either kidney dysfunction or possible parathyroid. Best test for magnesium deficiency is the modified Chvostek's sign. One taps the facial nerve located in the jaw muscles(masseter) with a reflex hammer and if the upper lip twitches then you confirm a deficiency." ~Dr. Blaney, MD
Intracellular evaluation of magnesium may be more accurate. It is done with a new technique. See Exatest
Magnesium supplements
Because some of our members may have undiagosed kidney disease, hypotension or GI absorption problems, we err on the side of caution and advise you to discuss magnesium supplementation with your doctor.
Either Milk of Magnesia (magnesium hydroxide) or magnesium oxide tablets, are an effective treatment for prevention of constipation. Increase the amount gradually to determine the effective daily dose. Both are safe and effective taken for long periods of time.
Do not take minocycline within 2 hours of taking a magnesium supplement because magnesium binds minocycline in the gut and decreases the absorption of minocycline.
Magnesium content and bioavailability of oral supplements
Oral magnesium supplements combine magnesium with another substance such as a salt. Examples of magnesium supplements include magnesium oxide, magnesium sulfate, magnesium malate and magnesium carbonate. Elemental magnesium refers to the amount of magnesium in each compound. The amount of elemental magnesium in a compound and its bioavailability influence the effectiveness of the magnesium supplement.
Bioavailability refers to the amount of magnesium in food, medications, and supplements that is absorbed in the intestines and ultimately available for biological activity in your cells and tissues. Enteric coating of a magnesium compound can decrease bioavailability.
In a study that compared four forms of magnesium preparations, results suggested lower bioavailability of magnesium oxide (hence its effectiveness to relieve constipation), with significantly higher and equal absorption and bioavailability of magnesium chloride and magnesium lactate. This supports the belief that both the magnesium content of a dietary supplement and its bioavailability contribute to its ability to replete deficient levels of magnesium.
Chelated forms of magnesium are absorbed more easily. Solgar Chelated magnesium (each tablet is 100 mg) or Thorne magnesium aspartate (100 mg in each capsule) are two examples. Both can be ordered from http://www.NEEDS.com
See also Food sources of magnesium
Keep in mind that magnesium supplements may contain hidden, unlabeled vitamin D. Be sure to monitor your 25-D to ensure it remains low.
Oxypowder
Oxy-Powder is touted to be "a specially designed compund that has been ozonated...... to melt away cmpacted fecal matter in a safe and effective manner."
The contents are:
Ozonated Magnesium Oxides 2960mg
Natural Citric Acid 100mg (Vitamin C)
Organic Germanium-132 22mg
Please note that Oxy-powder's main ingredient is magnesium oxide and that Organic Germanium-132 22mg is contraindicated because it is touted to affect the immune system and act as a bacteriocide.
Epsom salts
Epsom salts are known chemically as magnesium sulfate which can be absorbed through the skin. Drawing a bath and pouring in some epsom salts will provide an unknown quantity of magnesium as well as relaxation. Do not immerse yourself in water that increases your body temperature by more than two degrees to avoid increased immunopathology.
"My doc recommended Epsom salt and baking soda baths for relieving aches and pains in muscles and joints. I don't know why, but the baths work for me. Put 1/2 - 3/4 cup each of Epsom salt and baking soda in a tub of warm water, not hot water, warm water. If using larger whirlpool tub, use 1 1/2 - 2 cups each. Soak in tub for 10-15 minutes." ~Audrey
Last edited on Fri Aug 1st, 2008 05:59 by Meg Mangin R.N.
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Meg Mangin R.N.
Research Team
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Posted: Wed Jan 10th, 2007 19:11 |
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(filelink)
Is supplemental magnesium intake risky?
Kidney Int. 2006 Dec 6; [Epub ahead of print]
Uremia-related vascular calcification: More than apatite deposition.
Verberckmoes SC, Persy V, Behets GJ, Neven E, Hufkens A, Zebger-Gong H, Muller D, Haffner D, Querfeld U, Bohic S, De Broe ME, D'Haese PC.
Laboratory of Physiopathology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
In the present study, we characterized and compared the mineral phase deposited in the aortic wall of two different frequently used chronic renal failure rat models of vascular calcification. Vascular calcification was induced in rats by either a 4-week adenine treatment followed by a 10-week high-phosphate diet or 5/6 nephrectomy followed by 6 weeks of 0.25 mug/kg/day calcitriol treatment and a high-phosphate diet. Multi-element mapping for calcium and phosphate together with mineral identification was performed on several regions of aortic sections by means of synchrotron X-ray-mu-fluorescence and diffraction. Bulk calcium and magnesium content of the aorta was assessed using flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Based on the diffraction data the Von Kossa-positive precipitate in the aortic regions (N=38) could be classified into three groups: (1) amorphous precipitate (absence of any diffraction peak pattern, N=12); (2) apatite (N=16); (3) a combination of apatite and magnesium-containing whitlockite (N=10). The occurrence of these precipitates differed significantly between the two models.
Furthermore, the combination of apatite and whitlockite was exclusively found in the calcitriol-treated animals.These data indicate that in adenine/phosphate-induced uremia-related vascular calcification, apatite is the main component of the mineral phase. The presence of magnesium-containing whitlockite found in addition to apatite in the vitamin D-treated rats, has to be seen in view of the well-known vitamin D-stimulated gastrointestinal absorption of magnesium.
Kidney International advance online publication, 6 December 2006; doi:10.1038/sj.ki.5002028.
PMID: 17149373 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
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