Magnesium and the Heart

November 28, 2009

Magnesium is Vital for Healthy Heart Rhythms

_http://www.wellnessresources.com/health/articles/magnesium_is_vital_for_hea

lthy_heart_rhythms/_

(http://www.wellnessresources.com/health/articles/magnesium_is_vital_for_healthy\

_heart_rhythms/)

A person does not typically get a second chance to prevent heart failure.

Not only is fish oil very important for this topic, it turns out that

magnesium is as well. Researchers conducted controlled metabolic study to

ensure magnesium deficiency and found that doing so significantly disrupted

normal heart rhythm function in otherwise healthy postmenopausal women. The

heart rhythm problem was corrected by taking magnesium. Interestingly, the

type of magnesium deficiency produced in the study is common due to the

poor quality of the general American diet. Indeed, magnesium deficiency is

common in America and is easily depleted by stress.

Numerous studies highlight the importance of magnesium in maintaining

normal heart electrical function. A problem as simple as the lack of

magnesium can set in motion a wide array of inflammatory cardiovascular

problems.

One study recently concluded that the lack of magnesium, when co-existing

with other health issues, â€œmay enhance the risk of developing chronic heart

failure.â€

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Magnesium Deficiency Stresses Your Heart

by Bryon Richards, CCN

_http://www.wellnessresources.com/studies/entry/magnesium_deficiency_stresse

s_your_heart_

(http://www.wellnessresources.com/studies/entry/magnesium_deficiency_stresses_yo\

ur_heart)

Byron's Comments:

Magnesium is crucial to heart health and often lacking. Many lives could

be saved simply by making sure magnesium intake is adequate (at least 400 mg

a day is needed).

Study Title:

The nerve-heart connection in the pro-oxidant response to Mg-deficiency.

Study Abstract:

Magnesium is a micronutrient essential for the normal functioning of the

cardiovascular system, and Mg deficiency (MgD) is frequently associated in

the clinical setting with chronic pathologies such as CHF, diabetes,

hypertension, and other pathologies. Animal models of MgD have demonstrated a

systemic pro-inflammatory/pro-oxidant state, involving multiple tissues/organs

including neuronal, hematopoietic, cardiovascular, and gastrointestinal

systems; during later stages of MgD, a cardiomyopathy develops which may

result from a cascade of inflammatory events. In rodent models of dietary MgD,

a

significant rise in circulating levels of proinflammatory neuropeptides

such as substance P (SP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide among others,

was observed within days (1-7) of initiating the Mg-restricted diet, and

implicated a neurogenic trigger for the subsequent inflammatory events; this

early â€œneurogenic inflammationâ€ phase may be mediated in part, by the

Mg-gated N: -methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor/channel complex. Deregulation

of

the NMDA receptor may trigger the abrupt release of neuronal SP from the

sensory-motor C-fibers to promote the subsequent pro-inflammatory changes:

elevations in circulating inflammatory cells, inflammatory cytokines,

histamine, and PGE(2) levels, as well as formation of nitric oxide, reactive

oxygen species, lipid peroxidation products, and depletion of key endogenous

antioxidants. Concurrent elevations of tissue CD14, a high affinity receptor

for lipopolyssacharide, suggest that intestinal permeability may be

compromised leading to endotoxemia. If exposure to these early (1-3 weeks MgD)

inflammatory/pro-oxidant events becomes prolonged, this might lead to impaired

cardiac function, and when co-existing with other pathologies, may enhance

the risk of developing chronic heart failure.

Study Information:

Tejero-Taldo MI, Kramer JH, Mak IuT, Komarov AM, Weglicki WB. The

nerve-heart connection in the pro-oxidant response to Mg-deficiency. Heart Fail

Rev. 2006 March 11(1):35-44.

Dept. of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Div. of Experimental Medicine,

The George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20037, USA.

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Magnesium Deficiency Sets the Stage for Plaque in the Arteries

_http://www.wellnessresources.com/health/articles/magnesium_deficiency_sets_

the_stage_for_plaque_in_the_arteries/_

(http://www.wellnessresources.com/health/articles/magnesium_deficiency_sets_the_\

stage_for_plaque_in_the_arteries/

)

A new animal study shows that low levels of magnesium promotes plaque

formation in the arteries. During the study period magnesium deficient

animals developed significantly more plaque in their aortas.

The researchers fed rabbits a diet known to produce atherosclerotic

plaque. The thickness of artery walls increased 42% in magnesium lacking

animals. LDL cholesterol was highest in the magnesium lacking rabbits and

lowest

in the magnesium supplemented rabbits.

This study adds further science to the idea that a diet lacking in

magnesium sets the stage for heart disease.

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