HEALTH: MAGNESIUM FIGHTS OSTEOPOROSIS

[Guest guest]

15. MAGNESIUM FIGHTS OSTEOPOROSIS

 

For many years osteoporosis has been a mystery disease, striking most

frequently in old age, often crippling and always bringing pain. When it

strikes, bones gradually lose density and become more porous. They break

easier, and are proportionately harder to mend. Osteoporosis attacks 20

to 30 percent of post-menopausal women, and between 5 to 10 percent of

men more than 50 years old.

 

For a long time nothing was known of its cause. It was considered an

unavoidable part of aging. Researchers now know that the bones of the

body are continually " shedding " cells and being rebuilt. Osteoporosis

results when the shedding or breaking down and resorbing of the bone

occurs faster than the building-up process.

 

Here are several theories for-why this takes place. One is that the

building blocks of the bone-calcium, vitamin D, etc.-are lacking.

Sometimes, dietary supplements of these elements can reestablish a

normal balance so that the bone is replaced as quickly as it is

resorbed.

 

Studies have also shown that prolonged lack of exercise can cause

deterioration of the bone. In these cases, a simple exercise program

along with adequate dietary therapy can block the disease's progress.

 

A more recent finding is that osteoporosis can be caused by

overproduction of adrenal steroids and large doses of corticosteroids.

At the same time, certain other hormones (estrogens) appear to combat

osteoporosis.

 

All of the facts have been jangling around in the files of medical

researchers for months and years- making no sense to many of them, and

leaving osteoporosis as much a mystery disease as ever. Now Dr. Lewis B.

Barnett, a retired orthopedic (bone) surgeon living in Center, Colorado,

whose work we have cited in previous chapters, has advanced a theory

that takes into account and explains all these random facts. What's

more, Barnett has successfully tested his theory.

 

In a personal interview at his Colorado home, Meadow Ranch, Dr. Barnett

told us, " One of the most important aspects of the disease osteoporosis

has been almost totally overlooked. That aspect is the role played by

magnesium. "

 

 

Health from Minerals in Water

 

Dr. Barnett first became interested in the role of magnesium in bones

and osteoporosis in 1950. At that time he began a series of

investigations in Hereford and Dallas, Texas. One purpose of the study

was to find out why people in later years frequently have fractures of

the cervical neck of the femur, and why in certain areas these heal with

great difficulty. These fractures rarely occurred in the Hereford area

but were common in Dallas.

 

When the fractures did occur in the Hereford area, at an average age of

82.5, the healing time was eight weeks. In Dallas, the fractures

occurred at the average of age 63, and, if they healed at all, took in

the vicinity of 6.3 months.

 

Barnett analyzed the soil and water content of the two areas, and

concluded the major factor in bone health was the mineral content of the

water supply. Analysis of the water showed that calcium alone could not

be the element responsible for combating osteoporosis. The Hereford

water contained only four parts per million of calcium while the Dallas

water contained 23 p.p.m. There were only slight differences in the

fluorine, iodine, and phosphorus content of the water. Barnett

considered these differences statistically insignificant.

 

The one really outstanding difference was in the magnesium content of

the two water supplies. The Dallas supply contained eight p.p.m. of the

mineral, while the Hereford water contained 16 p.p.m.

 

Although the medical literature then contained very little on the

virtues of magnesium, Barnett did locate some reports on the subject. In

the publication, Vital Facts About Foods, by Otto Carque (1933) is the

statement. " Bones average about 1 per cent phosphate of magnesium and.

teeth about 1% per cent phosphate of magnesium. Elephant tusks contain 2

per cent of phosphate of magnesium and billiard balls made from these

are almost indestructible. The teeth of carnivorous animals contain

nearly 5 per cent phosphate of magnesium and thus they are able to crush

and grind the bones of their prey without difficulty. "

 

Barnett decided to analyze the bone content of people in Dallas and

Hereford. He chose for his study 500 women, average age 55. All were his

patients, undergoing lumbar and cervical vertebrae surgery. Except for

slipped disks and related problems, they considered themselves healthy

individuals.

 

 

More Magnesium, Stronger Bone

 

The findings bore out the results of the previous studies: the major

difference was in the magnesium content of the bone. In the Dallas area

where bone weakness was evident because of the high number of cases of

osteoporosis, the magnesium content of bone was .05 percent; in

Hereford, 1.76 percent.

 

Still Barnett was not satisfied. He decided on another study. He

examined the bone content of healthy people and compared it with the

content of people suffering from severe osteoporosis. Again he found

there was little difference among the calcium, phosphorus, and fluoride

content of the bones of the individuals. The magnesium content of the

healthy people, however, was 1.26 percent. That of the osteoporosis

victims was .62 percent.

 

'The mechanism whereby magnesium functions to strengthen bone and combat

osteoporosis is, like many functions of the body, quite complex, " Dr.

Barnett explained. " Our studies, however, have convinced us that the

mineral is important-perhaps the most important single element-in bone

health. "

 

The theory behind it is that magnesium is needed, by the pituitary

gland. This gland regulates all the other glands of the body, and to do

this regulating it uses magnesium. This mineral acts as a sedative,

counteracting the stimulant effect of the adrenal glands. These glands

must be restrained in their production, or else their secretions will

speed up the breaking down and resorption of bone tissue.

 

Another function of magnesium is to act as an enzyme or catalyst. In

effect, it acts as the glue that binds calcium and fluorine to build

bone. Thus, even though calcium and fluorine may be abundant in the

diet, they cannot be used and are flushed out of the system unless the

binding element, magnesium, is also present.

 

 

Deficiency Widespread

 

" A test we conducted on 5,000 people found about 60 percent of them

deficient in magnesium, " Barnett told us.

 

" Perhaps it wouldn't be a bad idea, since they are adding things to the

water supply anyway, if they considered magnesium. " At any rate, Barnett

does not consider osteoporosis a necessary accompaniment of old age. A

diet high in magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, and fluorine is definitely

an important preventive measure.

 

There is no official recommendation on how much magnesium one should get

in his daily diet. Not only is magnesium the mystery mineral, but it is

also, to a large degree, the ignored one. However, Dr. Barnett advocates

that 600 mg. a day will provide a safety margin and will not be wasted.

 

***

http://www.mgwater.com/rod15.shtml

[Guest guest]

MAGNESIUM FIGHTS OSTEOPOROSIS

Dear Wildmouse:

I take magnesium every day and really believe in it. Since greens

and lemons are our major osurce of magnesium, its no wonder this

country is deficient in this mineral. I am very thankful for the link

and will make a link to it at:

http://www.infowest.com/business/g/gentle/siteindex.html

Come visit my site. I thought you were in one of my groups and went

looking, bbut didn't find you. Oh well, I just wanted to let you know

I appreciate this very much. En paz y luz, Laura

[Guest guest]

Hello Laura,

 

Yes, your name sounded familiar to me too... do you run a group called

gentle_survivalist? I used to be in a group of that name but I'm not a

member there anymore. Sounds like we might have much in common though...

 

Glad you liked the posts about Mg - it is indeed a very important part

of our diets and the lack of it in my system lately has been more than

evident! If I had remembered to take it earlier tonight I wouldn't even

be awake right now - I'd be sleeping peacefully like the rest of the

world does... lol!

 

Peace!

 

Mouse

 

" Laura Martin-Bühler " wrote:

>

> MAGNESIUM FIGHTS OSTEOPOROSIS

> Dear Wildmouse:

> I take magnesium every day and really believe in it. Since greens

> and lemons are our major osurce of magnesium, its no wonder this

> country is deficient in this mineral. I am very thankful for the link

> and will make a link to it at:

> http://www.infowest.com/business/g/gentle/siteindex.html

> Come visit my site. I thought you were in one of my groups and went

> looking, bbut didn't find you. Oh well, I just wanted to let you know

> I appreciate this very much. En paz y luz, Laura

>

[Guest guest]

When I read about the Mg, I instantly checked

recommended dosage and it's 600mg.

 

So I sighed a relief sigh, b/c I get that in my

supplements since I take Ca/Mg for bone

protection in a 2:1 ratio. Being just past

menopause, I need 1500 mg Ca daily and since I

can't eat Ca foods right now due to a health

problem, my naturopath recommends 1500 Ca per day

in supplements.

 

My point is just to mention that if you take Ca

for bone health, you should normally be taking a

substantial dose of Mg also.

 

Hope this is useful to someone.

--- WildMouse <wildmouse wrote:

> Hello Laura,

>

> Yes, your name sounded familiar to me too... do

> you run a group called

> gentle_survivalist? I used to be in a group of

> that name but I'm not a

> member there anymore. Sounds like we might

> have much in common though...

>

> Glad you liked the posts about Mg - it is

> indeed a very important part

> of our diets and the lack of it in my system

> lately has been more than

> evident! If I had remembered to take it

> earlier tonight I wouldn't even

> be awake right now - I'd be sleeping peacefully

> like the rest of the

> world does... lol!

>

> Peace!

>

> Mouse

>

> " Laura Martin-Bühler " wrote:

> >

> > MAGNESIUM FIGHTS OSTEOPOROSIS

> > Dear Wildmouse:

> > I take magnesium every day and really

> believe in it. Since greens

> > and lemons are our major osurce of magnesium,

> its no wonder this

> > country is deficient in this mineral. I am

> very thankful for the link

> > and will make a link to it at:

> >

>

http://www.infowest.com/business/g/gentle/siteindex.html

> > Come visit my site. I thought you were in one

> of my groups and went

> > looking, bbut didn't find you. Oh well, I

> just wanted to let you know

> > I appreciate this very much. En paz y luz,

> Laura

> >

>

 

 

 

 

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