'Aortic calcification' - Magnesium Deficiency?

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'Aortic calcification' - Magnesium Deficiency?

 

http://www.ctds.info/5_13_magnesium.html#calcification

 

Magnesium is a known treatment for calcification. Mg levels have been found to

be greatly reduced in " calcified mitral valves " . In a study of rats, Mg

deficiency has been shown to " cause " 'aortic calcification'. Vitamin K

deficiency has also been linked to calcification of soft tissues.

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Arterial calcification: a review of mechanisms, animal model

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Med Res Rev. 2001 Jul;21(4):274-301. Related Articles, Links

 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve & db=PubMed & list_uids=1\

1410932 & dopt=Abstract

 

Arterial calcification: a review of mechanisms, animal models, and the

prospects for therapy.

Wallin R, Wajih N, Greenwood GT, Sane DC. Section of Rheumatology, Department of

Internal Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem,

North Carolina, USA.

 

The causes of arterial calcification are beginning to be elucidated.

Macrophages, mast cells, and smooth muscle cells are the primary cells

implicated in this process.

 

The roles of a variety of bone-related proteins including bone morphogenetic

protein-2 (BMP-2), matrix Gla protein (MGP), osteoprotegerin (OPG), osteopontin,

and osteonectin in regulating arterial calcification are reviewed.

 

Animals lacking MGP, OPG, smad6, carbonic anhydrase isoenzyme II, fibrillin-1,

and klotho gene product develop varying extents of " arterial calcification " .

 

Hyperlipidemia, vitamin D, nicotine, and warfarin, alone or in various

combinations, " produce " arterial calcification in animal models.

 

MGP has recently been discovered to be an inhibitor of bone morphogenetic

protein-2, the principal osteogenic growth factor.

 

Many of the forces that induce arterial calcification may act by disrupting the

essential post-translational modification of MGP, allowing BMP-2 to induce

" mineralization " .

 

MGP requires gamma-carboxylation before it is functional, and this process uses

vitamin K as an essential cofactor.

 

Vitamin K deficiency, drugs that act as vitamin K antagonists, and oxidant

stress are forces that could prevent the formation of GLA residues on MGP.

 

The potential role of arterial apoptosis in calcification is discussed.

Potential therapeutic options to limit the rate of arterial calcification are

summarized.

Publication Types: Review PMID: 11410932 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

 

Magnesium is second only to potassium in terms of " concentration " within the

individual cells of the body. The functions of magnesium primarily revolve

around its ability to " activate " many enzymes.

 

Magnesium deficiency is extremely common in Americans, particularly in the

geriatric population and in women during the premenstrual period.

 

Deficiency is often secondary to factors that reduce absorption or increase

secretion of magnesium such as: high calcium intake, alcohol, surgery,

diuretics, liver disease, kidney disease, and oral contraceptive use.

 

Signs and symptoms of magnesium deficiency can include fatigue, irritability,

weakness, heart disturbances, mental confusion, muscle cramps, loss of appetite,

insomnia, and a predisposition to stress.

 

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Magnesium Supplementation in Cardiovascular Disease

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Magnesium supplementation has been shown to be an extremely effective therapy or

adjunctive measure in many common conditions especially cardiovascular disease.

 

Magnesium is absolutely essential in the proper functioning of the heart.

Magnesium's role in preventing heart disease and strokes is generally

well-accepted.

 

In addition, there is a substantial body of knowledge demonstrating that

magnesium supplementation is effective in treating a wide range of

cardiovascular diseases.

 

For example, magnesium was first shown to be of value in the treatment of

cardiac arrhythmias in 1935. More than seventy years later, there are now

numerous double-blind studies showing magnesium to be of benefit for many types

of arrhythmias including atrial fibrillation, ventricular premature

contractions, ventricular tachycardia, and severe ventricular arrhythmias.

 

Magnesium supplementation has also been shown to be helpful in angina due to

either a spasm of the coronary artery or atherosclerosis.

 

The beneficial effects of magnesium in angina relate to its ability improve

" energy production " within the heart; dilate the coronary arteries resulting in

" improved delivery " of oxygen to the heart; reduce peripheral vascular

resistance resulting in reduced demand on the heart; inhibit platelets from

aggregating and forming blood clots; and improve heart rate.

 

Magnesium supplementation is also critical in congestive heart failure

 

(CHF). Studies have shown that CHF patients with normal levels of magnesium

significantly live longer than those with lower magnesium levels.

 

Many of the conventional drugs for CHF and high blood pressure (diuretics,

beta-blockers, calcium channel-blockers, etc.) deplete body magnesium stores.

 

Magnesium supplementation generally produces a modest impact in lowering high

blood pressure (i.e., less than 10 mm Hg for both the systolic and diastolic).

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Conditions Benefited by Magnesium Supplementation

 

Because of magnesium's critical role in many body processes, it is not

surprising that research has demonstrated magnesium supplementation to benefit

many other conditions. For example, since magnesium promotes relaxation of the

bronchial smooth muscles, magnesium supplementation is a well-proven and

clinically accepted measure to halt an acute asthma attack (via intravenous

administration)

as well as acute flare-ups of COPD.

 

Magnesium is known to play a central role in the secretion and action of

insulin.

 

Several studies in patients with diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance have

shown magnesium to be of significant value. Magnesium supplementation (usually

400 to 500 mg per day) improves insulin response and action, glucose tolerance,

and the fluidity of the red blood cell membrane.

 

In addition, magnesium levels are usually low in diabetics and lowest in those

with severe retinopathy.

Diabetics appear to have higher magnesium requirements.

 

An underlying magnesium deficiency can result in chronic fatigue and symptoms

similar to the chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

 

Low red blood cell magnesium levels, a more accurate measure of magnesium status

than routine blood analysis, have been found in many patients with chronic

fatigue and CFS. Double-blind studies in people with CFS have shown magnesium

supplementation significantly improved energy levels, better emotional state,

and less pain.

Magnesium supplementation has also been shown to produce tremendous improvements

in the number and severity of tender points in patients with fibromyalgia.

 

Magnesium increases the solubility of calcium in the urine.

 

Supplementing magnesium to the diet has demonstrated significant effect in

preventing recurrences of kidney stones. However, when used in conjunction with

vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) an even greater effect is noted.

Magnesium supplementation is very important in preventing headaches.

 

There is now considerable evidence that low magnesium levels trigger both

migraine and tension headaches. In individuals with chronic headaches that have

low magnesium levels, magnesium supplementation has been shown to produce

excellent results in double-blind studies.

 

Magnesium needs increase during pregnancy. Magnesium deficiency during pregnancy

has been linked to preeclampsia (a serious condition of pregnancy associated

with elevations in blood pressure, fluid retention,

and loss of protein in the urine), preterm delivery, and fetal growth

retardation.

 

In contrast, supplementing the diet of pregnant women with additional oral

magnesium has been shown to significantly decrease the incidence of these

complications.

 

Magnesium deficiency has also been suggested as a causative factor in

premenstrual syndrome.

While magnesium has been shown to be effective on its own, even better results

may be achieved by combining it with vitamin B6.

 

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Available Forms:

 

Magnesium is available in several different forms. Absorption studies indicate

that magnesium is easily absorbed orally, especially when it is bound to amino

acids, aspartate, citrate, or malate.

 

Inorganic forms of magnesium such as magnesium chloride, oxide, or carbonate are

less well absorbed and are more likely to cause diarrheaat higher dosages.

 

Usual Dosage: Many nutritional experts feel the ideal intake for magnesium

should be based on body weight (6 mg/2.2 pounds body weight). For a 110- pound

person the recommendation would be 300 mg, for a 154-pound person 420mg, and for

a 200-pound person 540 mg.

 

 

Cautions and Warnings:

 

If you suffer from a serious kidney disorder or are on hemodialysis, do not take

magnesium supplements.

 

 

Possible Side Effects:

 

In general, magnesium is very well tolerated. Magnesium supplementationcan

sometimes cause a loose stool, particularly magnesium sulfate (Epsom salts),

hyroxide, or chloride.

 

 

Drug Interactions:

 

There are many drugs that appear to adversely effect magnesium status.Most

notable are many diuretics, insulin, and digitalis.

 

Nutrient Interactions: There is extensive interaction between magnesium and

calcium, potassium,and other minerals.High dosages of other minerals will

" reduce " absorption of magnesium.

 

A high calcium intake and a high intake of dairy foods fortified with vitamin D

results in " decreased " magnesium absorption.

 

Vitamin B6 works together with magnesium in many enzyme systems.

 

Key References:

Gums JG. Magnesium in cardiovascular and other disorders. Am J Health Syst

Pharm. 2004;61:1569-76. Touyz RM. Magnesium in clinical medicine. Front Biosci.

2004;9:1278- 93. Fox C, Ramsoomair D, Carter C. Magnesium: its proven and

potential clinical significance. South Med J. 2001;94(12):1195-201. Saris NE,

Mervaala E, Karppanen H, Khawaja JA, Lewenstam A. Magnesium. An update on

physiological, clinical and analytical aspects. Clin Chim Acta.

2000;294(1-2):1-26. Jee SH, Miller ER 3rd, Guallar E, et al. The effect of

magnesium supplementation on blood pressure: a meta-analysis of randomized

clinical trials. Am J Hypertens. 2002;15:691-6. Alter HJ, Koepsell TD, Hilty WM.

Intravenous magnesium as an adjuvant in

acute bronchospasm: a meta-analysis. Ann Emerg Med. 2000;36(3):191- 7.

Barbagallo M, Dominguez LJ, Galioto A, et al. Role of magnesium in insulin

action, diabetes and cardio-metabolic syndrome X. Mol Aspects Med.

2003;24(1-3):39-52. Manuel y Keenoy B, Moorkens G, Vertommen J, et al. Magnesium

status and parameters of the oxidant-antioxidant balance in patients with

chronic fatigue: effects of supplementation with magnesium. J Am Coll Nutr.

2000;19(3):374-82. Howard JM, Davies S, Hunnisett A. Magnesium and chronic

fatigue syndrome. Lancet 1992;340:426. Cox IM, Campbell MJ, Dowson D. Red blood

cell magnesium and chronic fatigue syndrome. Lancet 1991;337:757–60. Russell IJ,

Michalek JE, Flechas JD, Abraham GE. Treatment of fibromyalgia syndrome with

Super Malic: a randomized, double blind, placebo controlled, crossover pilot

study. J Rheumatol. 1995;22(5):953-8. Schwille PO, Schmiedl A, Herrmann U, et

al. Magnesium, citrate, magnesium citrate and magnesium-alkali citrate as

modulators of calcium oxalate crystallization in urine: observations in patients

with recurrent idiopathic calcium urolithiasis. Urol Res. 1999;27(2):117- 26.

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