2004 Gallup Poll on Magnesium Awareness

[Guest guest]

I take a calcium tablet 3 times daily and with one I take a magnesium pill. Because I no longer drink as much milk as I used to, I take the calcium. Sometimes before vigorous Summer exercise, I will take a magnesium and a potassium tablets, about an hour before. Don't want my heart looking for essential minerals and shutting down on me.

 

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[Guest guest]

Majority of Americans Not Getting Enough Magnesium

 

 

 

Most Not Aware of RDA for Essential Mineral

Magnesium is an essential mineral of a healthy diet. It may help to maintain the function of the heart, muscles

and nervous system.* However, according to a recent Gallup poll, four out of

five Americans (80%) are not consuming enough magnesium from diet alone. That

number may be even higher among those who have certain medical conditions or

are taking medications known to deplete magnesium in the body.

Even when including vitamin and mineral supplements together with diet,

only about one in three (35%) consume the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA)

or better of magnesium (between 310 - 420 mg/day). The vast majority of

respondents (86%) were not aware of the daily requirement of magnesium at all.

Magnesium is essential for the functioning of more than 300 enzymes.

Proper magnesium levels help maintain normal heart rhythms.* It is also

necessary for normal protein synthesis, carbohydrate metabolism, proper muscle

function and helps to absorb calcium and potassium.*

"It's clear that most people aren't aware of the important role that

magnesium plays in the body. If people are concerned about their magnesium

levels, they should make sure to discuss medications and health conditions

with their doctor when evaluating their diet and magnesium supplement

options," said Barbara Levine, R.D., PhD., Associate Professor of Nutrition in

Medicine, Weill Medical College of Cornell University-New York Presbyterian

Hospital.

The majority of people (53%) surveyed couldn't name a good source of

magnesium, which include 100% bran cereals, avocados, almonds, milk, pumpkin

seeds, cashews, cooked spinach, sesame seeds, oatmeal, potatoes (baked, with

skin) and soy beans.(1)

The body's stores of magnesium can be depleted by certain illnesses or

chronic conditions such as extensive bowel resection, intestinal or biliary

fistulas, pancreatic insufficiency, celiac disease, ulcerative colitis and

Chron's disease. Certain medications, such as loop/thiazide diuretics (water

pills) and digoxin, can also affect magnesium levels.

Additionally, poorly controlled diabetes may be a risk factor for

depletion of magnesium stores. High alcohol intake and chronic or excessive

vomiting or diarrhea can also deplete magnesium.(2)

Ensuring enough magnesium through diet or supplements is important -- and

so is making sure that the mineral is absorbed into the body as intended.

Supplements containing magnesium chloride allow the body

to absorb more magnesium compared to products that contain magnesium oxide.

Not surprisingly, 86% of the survey respondents didn't know difference between

magnesium chloride and oxide.

The Gallup Organization conducted a telephone survey of a nationally

representative sample of 1,009 American adults 18 years of age or older.

Interviews were conducted between January 6-31, 2004. For the results based

on sample size, the margin of error at 95 percent confidence interval is +/- 3

percentage points.

* These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug

Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure

or prevent any disease.

(1) The magnesium content of various foods and vitamin supplements was

gathered from the Nutritional Data Library of the USDA,

http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/search/index.html.

(2) Office of Dietary Supplements National Institutes of Health.

Magnesium. Facts About Dietary Supplements,

http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/cc/magn.html.

Key Findings:

Gallup Poll Survey on Magnesium Intake and Supplement Usage

Americans increasingly understand the necessity of supplementing their

diet with both a multi-vitamin and extra amounts of certain vitamins and

minerals. However, magnesium is not a mineral that Americans typically think

of as important to their health. The awareness level of health conditions

with associated vitamin deficiency is also low.

General Awareness

-- 56% of respondents listed Vitamin C among "most important" among

vitamins and minerals

-- 86% of men and women did not know the daily requirement of magnesium

-- Percentage of respondents who were aware of health conditions

associated with vitamin and mineral deficiency:

Heart disease, including high blood pressure: 47%

Diabetes: 32%

Osteoporosis: 71%

Migraine headaches: 29%

Muscle cramps: 62%

Intake of Vitamin and Mineral Supplements

-- 51% of men and 66% of women take vitamin and mineral supplements daily

-- 73% of respondents did not know how much magnesium they take daily

-- It is very likely or somewhat likely that more than half of respondents

(55%) may not be consuming enough magnesium

-- Four out of five (80%) respondents are below the RDA of magnesium from

food intake alone; when evaluating food intake plus supplements, more

than three out of five (65%) were below the RDA. Responses, though,

varied substantially between men and women:

- 86% of men were below the RDA of magnesium from food intake alone

and 76% were below the RDA with food plus dietary supplement

- 76% of women were below the RDA of magnesium from food intake alone

and 55% were below with the RDA with food plus dietary supplement

Intake of Magnesium Supplements Among Patients with Health Conditions

-- Percentage of those who were getting the RDA or better of magnesium

from food and supplements with the following conditions:

- Heart disease 26% (74% were below the RDA)

- Diabetes 40% (60% were below the RDA)

- Osteoporosis 35% (65% were below the RDA)

- Migraine headaches 42% (58% were below the RDA)

-- 86% of respondents could not tell the difference between magnesium

chloride vs. magnesium oxide and the benefits associated with either

-- 53% of respondents could not name a good source of magnesium. Foods

which are good sources of magnesium include: 100% bran cereals,

avocados, almonds, milk, pumpkin seeds, cashews, cooked spinach, sesame

seeds, oatmeal, potatoes and soy beans. Dietary magnesium supplements

are also available over-the-counter.

Methodology

The Gallup Organization conducted a telephone survey of a nationally

representative sample of 1,009 American adults 18 years of age or older.

Interviews were conducted between January 6 - 31, 2004. For the results based

on sample size, the margin of error at 95 percent confidence interval is +/- 3

percentage points. This survey was commissioned by Purdue Products L.P. Claudia French RN, LPHAcfrench180 Assistant Director International Medical Veritas Associationhttp://imva.info/

 

Federation for Safe and Effective Medicinehttp://web.mac.com/medicalveritas/iWeb/FSEM/FSEM.html

 

 

MagnesiumForLifehttp://www.magnesiumforlife.com/ Diabetics International Foundationhttp://members.tripod.com/diabetics_world/