Magnesium in Hypertension Prevention and Control

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Magnesium in Hypertension Prevention and Control

_http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2004/sep2004_report_magnesium_02.htm_

(http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2004/sep2004_report_magnesium_02.htm)

By Jay S. Cohen, MD

 

High blood pressure is an even stronger predictor of cardiovascular risk

than high cholesterol. Scientific studies directly correlate high blood

pressure with decreased longevity. Yet most mainstream physicians and their

patients ignore this risk until life-threatening hypertension has already

developed.

 

 

A well-established body of research indicates that nutrients such as

magnesium are highly effective in treating and—even more

importantly—preventing

high blood pressure. Because this metallic element is not plentiful in

foods, magnesium supplementation may be effective in both prevent ing and

controlling high blood pressure. Learn why you should be concerned about high

blood pressure—whether you have it yet or not.

 

 

Fifty million Americans have high blood pressure. If you are not one of

them, you likely will be eventually. As New York Times health columnist Jane

Brody wrote:

 

 

“Americans now 55 or over face a 90% chance of developing high blood

pressure, or hypertension, a major risk factor for heart attacks, strokes,

congestive heart failure, circulatory failure, kidney disease, and loss of

vision.â€1

 

 

Hypertension expert Norman Kaplan, MD, agrees, writing that “Most people

will develop hypertension during their lifetime.â€2 In fact, 800 million

people—or about 20% of the Earth’s adult population—already have high

blood

pressure. This is bad news because hypertension leads directly to heart

disease, kidney disease, strokes, and other major health disorders. Conn’s

Current Therapy, a highly respected medical reference, defines how hypertension

greatly reduces longevity:

 

 

“A 35-year-old man with an arterial pressure of 130/90 will die 4 years

earlier than another 35-year-old man with the same medical background but

with normal pressure. If his pressure is 140/90, he will die 9 years earlier,

and if it’s 150/100, he will die 17 years earlier.â€3

 

 

To put it in perspective, Mark Houston, MD, a nationally recognized expert

on hypertension, once asked an audience of health care practitioners, “If

you have elevated cholesterol, diabetes, and hypertension, which should you

treat first?†Most picked diabetes, and others chose elevated cholesterol,

but the correct answer is hypertension. Why? Because high blood pressure

is a much stronger indicator of cardiovascular risk than high cholesterol.

The damage to blood vessels caused by high blood pressure leads to hundreds

of thousands of heart attacks and strokes each year. Moreover, people with

high blood pressure have a much greater risk of developing adult-onset

diabetes, and most people with diabetes sustain their greatest harm from the

hypertension that frequently accompanies it.

 

 

This is why preventing hypertension is so important to maintaining health

and prolonging longevity.

 

 

The Importance of Prevention

 

 

All experts agree on the importance of preventing high blood pressure. The

Joint National Committee on the Prevention, Detection, Eval-uation, and

Treatment of High Blood Pressure, a widely recognized expert panel of

hypertension specialists, advises: “Before considering the active treatment

of

hypertension, the even greater need for prevention of disease should be

recognized.â€4 Yet mainstream medical doctors are usually content to wait for

high

blood pressure to develop in their patients and then treat it. Few doctors

actively advise patients about how to prevent the disorder from occurring

in the first place.

 

 

This treatment approach is not very effective. Of the 50 million Americans

with hypertension, only about one-half are being treated, and only

one-half of those are being treated adequately.

 

[GRAPH]

 

TABLE 1: BLOOD PRESSURE CLASSIFICATIONS

This table lists the levels of hypertension associated with different

blood pressure readings.

 

 

 

..

 

 

TABLE 1: BLOOD PRESSURE CLASSIFICATIONS

This table lists the levels of hypertension associated with different

blood pressure readings. Except for Stage 2 hypertension, experts suggest that

hypertension should be diagnosed only after at least two elevated blood

pressure readings have been taken during different office visits. If your

systolic and diastolic readings fall into different categories, the higher

category defines your blood pressure classification. These classifications do

not apply if you are taking antihypertensive drugs or are acutely ill.

 

Systolic Blood Pressure

(mm Hg)

Diastolic Blood Pressure

(mm Hg)

Normal

less than 120

less than 80

Prehypertension

120-139

80-89

Stage 1 hypertension

140-159

90-99

Stage 2 hypertension

160 or higher

100 or higher

Adapted from the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on the

Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure,

2003.5

 

Prevention is even more important today because a blood pressure of 120/80

mm Hg (systolic/diastolic) is not good enough anymore (see Table 1). The

most recent report of the Joint National Committee, published in the Journal

of the American Medical Association in 2003, warned:

“The risk of cardiovascular disease, beginning at 115/75 mm Hg, doubles

with each increment of 20/10 mm Hg.â€5

Thus it is vitally important to do what you can to keep your blood

pressure low instead of waiting for it to creep up over the years. It is

especially important to be proactive because many people have a genetic

tendency

toward hypertension. Even if you have such a tendency, it does not mean you

are powerless. As with predispositions toward developing diabetes or elevated

cholesterol, much can be done to prevent hypertension from occurring or to

modify its severity if it does occur.

How Lifestyle Affects Blood Pressure

 

 

Many factors contribute to the development of hypertension, and lifestyle

choices play a central role. Maintaining a healthy weight is very

important. Extra pounds mean extra work for the heart, which must exert

additional

pressure to push the blood through the extra mile of blood vessels that come

with each pound of excess fat.

A healthy diet can have a major impact on your blood pressure. Studies

have shown that the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet, which

emphasizes poultry, fish, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lowfat dairy

products, and nuts, can reduce blood pressure as much as some prescription

drugs.6

Regular exercise and stress reduction also help keep blood pressure

normal. Tobacco and stimulant drugs should be avoided, as these substances boost

blood pressure and can injure the sensitive endothelium that lines the blood

vessels.

Caffeinated beverages are a controversial topic among hypertension

specialists. Caffeine appears to raise the blood pressure of some people but not

others. Caffeine certainly does not appear to help control blood pressure and

thus probably should be avoided.

Similarly, some people’s hypertension is sensitive to salt, meaning that a

high or even moderate salt intake will raise their blood pressure. Other

people are not sensitive to salt. Nevertheless, experts generally recommend

moderation in the use of salt.

Natural Supplements vs. Prescription Drugs

 

The list of supplements that can help lower blood pressure is lengthy, and

includes coenzyme Q10, essential fatty acids, fiber, garlic, lipoic acid,

hawthorn, magnesium, N-acetylcysteine, taurine, and vitamins B6 and C,

among others. Some of these substances are more useful than others; some are

backed by considerable scientific study, while others are not.

Patients are not likely to hear about any of these natural therapies from

a mainstream physician, though practitioners of alternative or integrative

medicine regularly recommend these supplements to their patients.

Unfortunately, the drug industry dominates the information that most mainstream

doctors receive, so that pharmaceuticals become the primary and often only

option prescribed for high blood pressure. The top-selling antihypertensive

drugs are costly, however, and all come with potential side effects that may

include fatigue, sedation, dry mouth, cough, dizziness, headache, nausea,

diarrhea, constipation, rash, itching, flushing, swollen legs or ankles,

depression, sexual dysfunctions, and metabolic imbalances. Because of these

side

effects, half of those who take antihypertensive medications eventually

quit taking them, usually within three months of starting treatment.5,7

Moreover, even when they lower blood pressure, prescription drugs do not

eliminate one’s risk entirely. People with controlled hypertension still

have a higher risk of heart attack and stroke than those who have the same

blood pressure but never developed hypertension in the first place. Why is

this? Mainstream medicine does not have the answer. One explanation is that

while drugs can be effective in blocking some of the factors that cause

elevated blood pressure, these medications do nothing to address the

intracellular imbalances that lead to the development of hypertension.

In other words, mainstream medicine treats the symptoms of hypertension

but does not address the underlying causes. Because nutritional imbalances

and other deficits remain, some of the risk remains as well.

 

 

The Magnesium Solution

 

 

Natural substances that lower blood pressure can differ significantly.

First, there is a big difference between a nutrient and a supplement. Health

care practitioners of all stripes often overlook this distinction. Taking an

herb with pharmacological effects is not much different than taking a

drug. If your blood pressure is rising because of nutritional deficiencies, it

makes more sense to start with the very nutrients that are missing.

 

 

Which nutrients are the most important for maintaining a healthy blood

pressure? Two that stand out are the metallic elements potassium and

magnesium.

 

 

Most people and doctors know that adequate amounts of potassium are

essential for maintaining healthy blood pressure. One of the main reasons that

the DASH diet reduces blood pressure is that it provides a large daily supply

of potassium. When doctors prescribe diuretics, they also recommend taking

potassium, derived either from food sources (such as bananas or

vegetables) or a prescription product.

 

 

Yet few doctors know that diuretics help flush magnesium as well as

potassium from the body. The resulting magnesium deficiency hinders potassium

use

by the cells.8,9 " Magnesium deficiency keeps people from replenishing

potassium, " says hypertension expert Chris Mende, MD. " So when patients are

hospitalized and potassium levels are low, efforts to increase potassium often

are hampered unless the magnesium deficiency is also treated. "

 

 

Nevertheless, magnesium's importance in maintaining normal blood pressure

and treating high blood pressure is not widely recognized. This is

surprising because magnesium is one of the most intensively studied nutrients

in

the scientific literature. Thousands of studies of magnesium can be found in

MEDLINE ( _www.pubmed.org_ (http://www.pubmed.org/) ), the National

Institutes of Health's vast collection of medical journal articles. Indeed,

according to the National Institutes of Health:

 

 

" Evidence suggests that magnesium may play an important role in regulating

blood pressure. Magnesium deficiency can cause metabolic changes that may

contribute to heart attacks and strokes. There is also evidence that low

body stores of magnesium increase the risk of abnormal heart rhythms, which

may increase the risk of complications associated with a heart attack.

Population surveys have associated higher blood levels of magnesium with lower

risk of coronary heart disease. " 10

 

 

Magnesium is one of the body's most important minerals. It is required as

a cofactor in hundreds of enzymatic processes within cells.11 Magnesium is

a major factor in relaxing the smooth muscles within the blood vessels,

thereby reducing peripheral vascular resistance and blood pressure.11-13 In

addition, magnesium reduces nerve and muscle excitability, stabilizes cardiac

conductivity, and influences neurochemical transmission.11,13,14 Magnesium

also affects circulating levels of norepinephrine and the synthesis of

serotonin and nitric oxide.11,14,15

 

 

Indeed, because of magnesium's primary role in blood pressure regulation,

for decades scientists have called magnesium " nature's calcium channel

blocker " . Magnesium directly offsets the constriction of blood vessels caused

by calcium.11,14 Because drug companies cannot make money from a natural

substance like magnesium, they have developed a whole group of drugs called

calcium antagonists or calcium channel blockers to do what magnesium does. In

2000, doctors wrote more than 95 million prescriptions for calcium

antagonists, including top sellers amlo-dipine (Norvasc®), nifedipine

(Procardia®), diltiazem (Cardizem®, Tiazac®), and others at a total cost of

more than

$4.5 billion.16 These drugs are not only costly, but they can also cause

side effects such as dizziness, palpitations, fatigue, tiredness, and swollen

legs. Yet many doctors do not hesitate to prescribe these drugs because

they were never taught about magnesium. While legions of pharmaceutical sales

representatives bring stacks of studies and free samples of these drugs,

no one pushes magnesium.17

 

 

Fortunately, a growing number of doctors are now learning about magnesium.

Sherry Rogers, MD, a highly respected integrative medicine physician, has

written extensively about magnesium's benefits for disorders caused by

abnormal muscle constriction: " In order for a muscle to contract, it needs

calcium. In order to relax, it needs magnesium. " 18 Hypertension is one of the

conditions for which Dr. Rogers recommends supplementing with magnesium.

 

 

Magnesium in Treating High Blood Pressure

 

 

Numerous studies demonstrate magnesium's importance in maintaining healthy

blood pressure. Epidemiological studies, which survey the causes,

prevalence, and distribution of disease in population groups, have found a

clear

relationship between magnesium in the diet and blood pressure: the more

magnesium in the diet of a given population, the lower its blood pressure tends

to be; conversely, the lower the amount of magnesium in the diet, the higher

the blood pressure.19

 

 

For example, in studies of the natives of Greenland, the Bedouin peoples

of the Middle East, the Bantu of southern Africa, and Australian aborigines,

the incidence of high blood pressure and cardiac disease was low when the

water they consumed or diets they ate were rich in magnesium. When these

people moved to urban areas and adopted modern, magnesium-deficient diets,

they developed hypertension and cardiac disease as often as their urban

counterparts.19

 

 

In the US and other Western countries, the incidence of cardiovascular

disease is significantly lower in people who live in areas with hard water

containing a high concentration of magnesium.20 Vegetarians, who usually get a

lot of magnesium in their diets, have a correspondingly lower incidence of

hypertension, heart disease, and sudden cardiac death. Assessing the

scientific data, Drs. Burton and Bella Altura, who have pioneered the study of

magnesium and cardiovascular diseases, concluded in Scientific American: " At

least 10 independent clinical studies show that patients with hypertension

of diverse etiologies exhibit hypomagnesemia [low magnesium] in serum or

tissues, or both. " 19

 

 

Evidence-based studies have shown the same thing. A 1989 study published

in the journal Hypertension found that taking 625 mg of magnesium daily

produced significant reductions in blood pressure in 21 subjects.21 A study

published in 1993 in the American Journal of Hypertension found that taking

supplemental magnesium reduced average systolic blood pressure from 154 to

146 mm Hg and cut average diastolic blood pressure from 100 to 92 mm Hg. The

authors commented: " For the first time in a double-blind,

placebo-controlled study, we have demonstrated that oral magnesium results in a

significant

dose-dependent reduction of systolic and diastolic blood pressure. " 22

 

 

A study published in the International Journal of Cardiology in 1996 found

that taking 600 mg of magnesium daily reduced systolic blood pressure by

an average of 7.6 mm Hg and diastolic pressure by an average of 3.8 mm Hg.23

In another double-blind, placebo-controlled study published in the

British Journal of Nutrition in 1997, subjects who took 411-548 mg of

magnesium

daily experienced significant reductions in systolic and diastolic blood

pressure.24

 

 

These and other studies 25-27 create a compelling body of evidence for the

use of magnesium in preventing and treating hypertension. In some studies,

magnesium failed to reduce blood pressure significantly, though these

studies typically were too brief in duration for the magnesium to reach maximum

effect, or they used inadequate amounts or poorly absorbed types of

magnesium. While some people obtained benefit from magnesium in these studies,

not enough people did to achieve statistical significance.

 

 

Summarizing the studies, Mildred Seelig, MD, who has been studying

magnesium for 60 years and has written numerous articles and books about this

vital element, concluded: " The studies that employed the larger supplements of

magnesium did in fact show that it has ability to lower high blood

pressure. " 28

 

 

Recognizing and Treating Magnesium Deficiencies

 

 

In 1900, the average American diet provided about 450 mg of magnesium a

day. By 2000, the average diet provided only 200-225 mg of magnesium daily,

well below the US RDA (recommended dietary allowance) of 320 mg for adult

women and 420 mg for adult men (see Table 2). Thus, while most Americans in

1900 obtained adequate magnesium from their diets, today as many as 80% do

not get enough.28,29 Similar deficiencies exist in all Western countries. A

survey conducted in France in the mid-1990s found that 72% of men and 77% of

women obtained less than the RDA of magnesium from their diet.30

 

[GRAPH]

TABLE 2: US RDA FOR MAGNESIUM

 

The recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for magnesium is affected by age,

gender, and other circumstances. Stress, for example, may increase the

amount required. Some experts believe these allowances are too low. Amounts

listed below are in mg per day.

 

Age Men Women

Pregnant Lactating

 

14-18 410 360

400 360

19-30 400 310

350 310

31+ 420 320

360 320

 

 

Modern food production contributes to the problem by using inadequate

amounts of magnesium in plant fertilizers, as well as by employing accelerated

growing techniques and refining methods that reduce magnesium content.

Today's dietary habits also exacerbate the problem. Soft drinks and other

popular beverages contain large amounts of phosphates that interfere with

magnesium absorption. Diets containing large amounts of fat, salt, coffee, or

alcohol also interfere with magnesium absorption or cause magnesium loss.

Calcium supplementation can reduce the absorption and increase the kidney

excretion of magnesium and other vital minerals.

 

 

Despite all this, magnesium deficiencies are rarely recognized because

there is no simple, widely available test for magnesium deficiency. Mainstream

medical laboratories measure the total serum (blood) magnesium. This

measurement is not very helpful; even if one is severely magnesium deficient,

the body will maintain a normal blood level of magnesium by drawing magnesium

from cells and bone. Thus, a normal serum magnesium level can mask even a

major magnesium deficiency. Incidentally, the same is true for calcium,

which is why osteoporosis is not diagnosed using a blood test but rather by

measuring bone density.

 

 

Developing a reliable test that can accurately reflect magnesium levels in

the tissues has been a challenge because less than 1% of the body's total

magnesium is contained in the blood, whereas about 55% resides in bone, 26%

in muscle, and 18% in other tissues. Yet such measurement is possible

today. Specialty laboratories can perform magnesium analyses on ionized blood,

red blood cells, hair, and cells swabbed from the inner side of the cheek.

These tests can be quite accurate and are frequently used by alternative

doctors, though not by most mainstream doctors. If one of these tests became

as standard as the others that doctors order, magnesium deficiencies would

be widely recognized and properly treated.

 

 

Should You Take Magnesium?

 

 

Unlike potassium, magnesium is not plentiful in a large number of foods.

Green vegetables, whole grains, and nuts contain substantial amounts of

magnesium. Unless you eat a lot of these foods, however, it is difficult to

obtain the RDA on a consistent basis, let alone the higher amounts often

needed for treating magnesium deficiencies or high blood pressure and other

vascular disorders.

 

 

Many people think they get enough magnesium from their multivitamins, but

the amount of magnesium in many supplements is inadequate. It is

recommended that you start with a low dose of magnesium such as 100 mg taken

twice

daily with meals, then gradually increase the dose to the RDA. For older

people, whose kidney excretion of magnesium is reduced, 100-200 mg per day of

magnesium is often sufficient.

 

 

People with magnesium deficiencies or hypertension may need even higher

daily doses of magnesium. Some integrative practitioners use 600-800 mg per

day of magnesium. Magnesium is usually well tolerated in people with normal

kidney function, but you should always consult with a health care

professional if you are taking more than the RDA. Symptoms of magnesium toxicity

are

rare and include weakness, slowed heart rate, reduced tendon reflexes, and

somnolence.

 

 

Summary

 

 

Magnesium should be considered by anyone seeking to prevent or treat high

blood pressure. The foundation for a healthy blood pressure consists of a

healthy diet, adequate exercise, stress reduction, and sufficient amounts of

potassium and magnesium. If you eat plentiful amounts of vegetables, you

are likely getting plenty of potassium. Sufficient magnesium, on the other

hand, is difficult to obtain through diet alone.

 

 

If you require medications for high blood pressure, take them as your

doctor suggests. For those with borderline or Stage 1 hypertension, however,

natural methods can be tried first. If you have done this and your blood

pressure is still elevated, see your doctor and inquire about medications that

can help. The best way to avoid medication side effects is to use the very

lowest dose required to bring your blood pressure down.31,32

 

 

Magnesium can be used in concert with drugs for hypertension. A friend of

mine, an advanced yoga instructor, developed muscle tightness as a side

effect of her antihypertensive medication. Supplementing with magnesium

allowed her to reduce her medication dose, and her muscle tightness went away.

 

 

Of course, the best way to avoid medication side effects is to prevent

hypertension from developing in the first place. If you do not have high blood

pressure yet, now is the time to initiate preventive measures. Start with

lifestyle strategies, including a healthy diet, regular exercise, stress

reduction, and avoiding smoking, caffeinated beverages, and chemicals that

raise blood pressure. Then make sure that you are getting enough potassium

and magnesium, as well as other nutrients known to help control blood

pressure.

 

 

If your blood pressure is already on the rise, do not hesitate to take

action. By the time hypertension is apparent, your arteries have sustained

years of injury; damage has already occurred and will continue to accelerate.

High blood pressure is a killer, and often more destructive than high

cholesterol. Do not wait for your doctor's instruction-you can start taking

steps to prevent hypertension today.

 

 

Jay S. Cohen, MD, is the author of OverDose, published by Tarcher/Putnam.

 

 

References

 

 

1. Brody JE. Hard facts of hypertension elude too many. New York Times.

June 25, 2004.

2. Kaplan NM. Hypertension in the population at large. In: Clinical

Hypertension. Baltimore, MD: Williams and Wilkins; 1998.

3. Rakel RE. Conn's Current Therapy. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders Company;

1993.

4. Sixth report of the Joint National Committee on the Prevention,

Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure. Arch Intern Med.

1997

Nov 24;157(21):2413-46.

5. Chobanian AV, Bakris GL, Black HR, et al. Seventh report of the Joint

National Committee on the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment

of High Blood Pressure. Hypertension. 2003 Dec;42(6):1206-52. Epub 2003 Dec

01.

6. Appel LJ, Moore TJ, Obarzanek E, et al. A clinical trial of the effects

of dietary patterns on blood pressure. DASH Collaborative Research Group.

N Engl J Med. 1997 Apr 17;336(16):1117-24.

7. Bloom BS. Daily regimen and compliance with treatment. BMJ. 2001 Sep

22;323(7314):647.

8. Reyes AJ, Alcocer, L. Minding magnesium while treating essential

hypertension with diuretics. In: Theophanides T, Anastassopoulou J. Magnesium:

Current Status and New Developments: Theoretical, Biological, and Medical

Aspects. 1st ed. Dordrecht, Netherlands: Kluwer Academic Publishers; 1997.

9. Sheehan JP, Seelig MS. Interactions of magnesium and potassium in the

pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease. Magnesium. 1984;3(46):30114.

10. Facts About Dietary Supplements (2001). NIH Clinical Center, National

Institutes of Health. March 2001.

11. Rude RK. Magnesium deficiency: a cause of heterogeneous disease in

humans. J Bone Miner Res. 1998 Apr;13(4):749-58.

12. Drug Facts and Comparisons. St. Louis, MO: Facts and Comparisons; 1996.

 

13. Cohen JS. High-dose oral magnesium in the treatment of chronic,

intractable erythromelalgia. Ann Pharmacother. 2002 Feb;36(2):255-60.

14. Iseri LT, French JH. Magnesium: nature's physiologic calcium blocker.

Am Heart J. 1984 Jul;108(1):18893.

15. Leppert J, Myrdal U, Hedner T, Edvinsson L, Tracz Z, Ringqvist I.

Effect of magnesium sulfate infusion on circulating levels of noradrenaline and

neuropeptide-Y-like immunoreactivity in patients with primary Raynaud's

phenomenon. Angiology. 1994 Jul;45(7):637-45.

16. Latner AW. 34th annual top 200 drugs. Pharmacy Times. April 1999.

17. Cohen JS. OverDose: The Case Against the Drug Companies. New York, NY:

Tarcher/Putnam; 2001.

18. Rogers SA. Tired or Toxic? A Blueprint for Health. Syracuse, NY:

Prestige Publishing; 1990.

19. Altura BM, Altura BT. Magnesium in cardiovascular biology. Scientific

American Science & Medicine. May/June 1995:28-37.

20. Altura BM, Altura BT. Role of magnesium in the pathogenesis of

hypertension updated: relationship to its actions on cardiac, vascular smooth

muscle, and endothelial cells. In: Laragh JH, Brenner BM, eds. Hypertension:

Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Management. 2nd ed. New York, NY: Raven Press;

1995.

21. Motoyama T, Sano H, Fukuzaki H. Oral magnesium supplementation in

patients with essential hypertension. Hypertension. 1989 Mar;13(3):22732.

22. Widman L, Wester PO, Stegmayr BK, Wirell M. The dosedependent reduction

in blood pressure through administration of magnesium. A double-blind

placebo-controlled crossover study. Am J Hypertens. 1993 Jan;6(1):41-5.

23. Sanjuliani AF, de Abreu Fagundes VG, Francischetti EA. Effects of

magnesium on blood pressure and intracellular ion levels of Brazilian

hypertensive patients. Int J Cardiol. 1996 Oct 11;56(2):177-83.

24. Itoh K, Kawasaka T, Nakamura M. The effects of high oral magnesium

supplementation on blood pressure, serum lipids and related variables in

apparently healthy Japanese subjects. Br J Nutr. 1997 Nov;78(5):737-50.

25. Kawano Y, Matsuoka H, Takishita S, Omae T. Effects of magnesium

supplementation in hypertensive patients: assessment by office, home, and

ambulatory blood pressures. Hypertension. 1998 Aug;32(2):2605.

26. Dyckner T, Wester PO. Effect of magnesium on blood pressure. Br Med J

(Clin Res Ed). 1983 Jun 11;286(6381):1847-9.

27. Witteman JC, Grobbee DE, Derkx FH, Bouillon R, de Bruijn AM, Hofman A.

Reduction of blood pressure with oral mag- nesium supplementation in women

with mild to moderate hypertension. Am J Clin Nutr. 1994 Jul;60(1):129-35.

28. Seelig MS, Rosanoff A. The Magnesium Factor. New York, NY: Avery

Publishers; 2003.

29. Johnson S. The multifaceted and widespread pathology of magnesium

deficiency. Med Hypotheses. 2001 Feb;56(2):16370.

30. Galan P, Preziosi P, Durlach V, et al. Dietary magnesium intake in a

French adult population. In: Theophanides T, Anastassopoulou J. Magnesium:

Current Status and New Developments: Theoretical, Biological, and Medical

Aspects. 1st ed. Dordrecht, Netherlands: Kluwer Academic Publishers; 1997.

31. Cohen JS. Dose discrepancies between the Physicians' Desk Reference

and the medical literature, and their possible role in the high incidence of

dose-related adverse drug events. Arch Intern Med. 2001 Apr

9;161(7):957-64.

32. Cohen JS. Adverse drug effects, compliance, and the initial doses of

antihypertensive drugs recommended by the Joint National Committee vs. the

Physicians' Desk Reference. Arch Intern Med. 2001 Mar 26;161(6):880-5.

 

 

 

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Common Conditions That May Result from Low Magnesium Levels

Magnesium (Mg) is a trace mineral that is known to be required for several

hundred different functions in the body. A significant portion of the

symptoms of many chronic disorders are identical to symptoms of magnesium

deficiency. Studies show many people in the U.S. today do not consume the

daily recommended amounts of Mg. A lack of this important nutrient may be a

major factor in many common health problems in industrialized countries.

Common conditions such as mitral valve prolapse, migraines, attention deficit

disorder, fibromyalgia, asthma and allergies have all been linked to a Mg

deficiency. Perhaps not coincidentally, these conditions also tend to occur

in clusters together within the same individual. A magnesium deficiency as a

root cause would provide a logical explanation of why some people suffer

from a constellation of these types of problems.

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Endocrine Function and Magnesium

Menopause and Premenstrual Syndrome

Sections-Crucial link between Cholesterol, Magnesium and Hormones;

Menstrual Migraine; Menopause, Mood Disorders and Magnesium; Osteoporosis;

Magnesium and Hot Flashes; Since we see that magnesium plays a significant role

in regulation of blood sugars and regulation of body temperature, it makes

good sense to utilize magnesium for the treatment of vasomotor symptoms

during menopause and we can expect to find great improvement, more comfort,

less mood disturbance and a smoother transition to post menopause. In

addition Magnesium serves as a natural muscle relaxant, making it useful for

relieving such symptoms as muscle cramping and anxiety. References 33.

_http://www.curesnaturally.com/Articles/Misc/Articles/Premenstrual.pdf_

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_http://www.thenhf.com/articles_315.htm_

(http://www.thenhf.com/articles_315.htm)

Magnesium in Neurological Diseases and Emotions

Even a mild deficiency of magnesium can cause increased sensitivity to

noise, nervousness, irritability, mental depression, confusion, twitching,

trembling, apprehension, and insomnia. Imagine being able to clear these

symptoms without dangerous drugs! Magnesium is the premier medicine for

depression, sleep disturbances, emotionally disturbed behavior, and

neurological

diseases because of its strong positive effect in calming and nourishing the

nervous system. The healthy cell is permeable. This means that nutrients

are able to pass into them efficiently to be absorbed and the toxic

byproducts of metabolism are eliminated. When the cells are healthy the

polarity of

the cell is correct, i.e., there is ntracellular potassium and magnesium as

well as extracellular sodium and calcium. The cell in this state is

healthy, and the person functions optimally both physically and emotionally.

The

unhealthy cell is not permeable. This leads to unhealthy cells with sodium

and calcium going inside the cell, and magnesium and potassium being lost.

_http://magnesiumforlife.com/medical-application/magnesium-in-neurological-d

iseases-and-emotions/_

(http://magnesiumforlife.com/medical-application/magnesium-in-neurological-disea\

ses-and-emotions/)

Inflammation and Systemic Stress

17 References. The chronic and continuous low-level stress that silent

inflammation places on the body’s defense systems often results in an

immune-system breakdown. Magnesium deficiency is a parallel silent insult

happening

at the core of our physiology. Magnesium deficiencies feed the fires of

inflammation and pain. It is magnesium that modulates cellular events

involved in inflammation. Magnesium deficiency causes and underpins chronic

inflammatory build ups. Magnesium is central to immunocompetence and plays a

crucial role in natural and adaptive immunity.[7] Increases in extracellular

magnesium concentration cause a decrease in the inflammatory response while

reduction in the extracellular magnesium results in inflammation.

Inflammation causes endothelial dysfunction and activated endothelium

facilitates

adhesion and migration of cancer cells.[8] Inflammation is the missing link

to explain the role of magnesium in many pathological conditions. People

with magnesium deficiency can’t properly metabolize important fatty acids

such

as EPA and DHA, which are vital to heart health. Magnesium acts as a

general cell tonic while it reduces inflammation and systemic stress. Equally

it

is important in overall energy (ATP) production, hormonal and enzyme

production and function which all reflect powerfully on the process of

inflammation.

_http://magnesiumforlife.com/medical-application/inflammation-and-systemic-s

tress/_

(http://magnesiumforlife.com/medical-application/inflammation-and-systemic-stres\

s/)

 

 

 

Magnesium and Calcification

A healthy cell has high magnesium and low calcium levels. Calcium can

lodge anywhere in your body and cause serious harm if not balanced with

magnesium, which regulates the action of calcium. For instance, excess calcium

buildup around your bones and joints mimics arthritis. Too much calcium lodged

in your heart imitates arterial lesions. Calcification or calcium

poisoning can manifest as heart disease, cancer, wrinkled skin, kidney stones,

osteoporosis, dental problems, bone spurs, cataracts and many other health

problems. Along with hypomagnesemia, signs of severe magnesium deficiency

included hypocalcemia, low serum potassium levels (hypokalemia), retention of

sodium, low circulating levels of PTH, neurological and muscular symptoms

(tremor, muscle spasms, tetany), loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and

personality changes. " increasing magnesium intake increases bones density[7]

[7]

in the elderly and reduces the risk of osteoporosis. When you load up your

system with excess calcium, you shut down magnesium’s ability to activate

thyrocalcitonin, a hormone that under normal circumstances would send

calcium to your bones.†Magnesium status is important for regulation of

calcium

balance through parathyroid hormone-mediated reactions. [12] [12] When

it comes to magnesium and calcium neither can be divided from the other. One

is not divisible from the other in terms of overall effect. They are

paired minerals yet it is magnesium that holds the overall key for their paired

function.

_http://magnesiumforlife.com/medical-application/magnesium-and-calcification/_

(http://magnesiumforlife.com/medical-application/magnesium-and-calcification/)

 

 

Magnesium & Calcium

Although the process of absorption for magnesium is similar to that of

calcium, some people absorb or retain much more magnesium than calcium (or more

calcium than magnesium), so the commonly suggested supplemental intake

ratio of 2:1 for calcium and magnesium is really an arbitrary value that can

change significantly under various individual circumstances. This is good to

read if one is deficient in minerals and/or concerned about magnesium and

ratios to calcium, potassium etc. Calcium causes muscles to contract;

magnesium causes muscles to relax. This relates to the heart as well; it is a

muscle too.

_http://www.acu-cell.com/acn.html_ (http://www.acu-cell.com/acn.html)

 

 

 

Calming Your Life & Tinnitus with Magnesium

by Barry Keate

_http://www.tinnitusformula.com/infocenter/articles/treatments/magnesium.asp

x_

(http://www.tinnitusformula.com/infocenter/articles/treatments/magnesium.aspx)

Rapid Recovery From Depression Using Magnesium Treatment

There is large graph here showing many of the mental symptoms of magnesium

deficiency. _http://george-eby-research.com/html/dep.html#iodine_

(http://george-eby-research.com/html/dep.html#iodine)

 

 

 

SIGNIFICANT MAGNESIUM DEFICIENCY IN DEPRESSION

By Richard H. Cox, Ph.D.,C. Norman Shealy, M.D., Ph.D. Roger K. Cady,

M.D., Diane Veehoff, R.N., M.S.W., Ph.D., Mariann Burnetti Awell, Psy.D., Rita

Houston, L.P.N. The current report summarizes the frequency of magnesium

deficiency in depressed patients as well as the greater accuracy of the

magnesium load test over various blood levels for measuring metabolic

competency

of this critical mineral.

_http://www.healingpeople.com/index.php?option=com_content & task=view & id=356 & Item\

id=14_

(http://www.healingpeople.com/index.php?option=com_content & task=view & id=356 & Item\

id=14)

 

 

Magnesium and Osteoporosis

Magnesium acts as a balancer of calcium in our body. Magnesium is also

nature's " calcium channel blocker " , preventing the entry of excessive calcium

in to the cell that causes contractions, contributing to chest pain,

hypertension, and arrhythmias. Magnesium deficiency can cause various

abnormalities of calcium metabolism, resulting in the formation of calcium

deposits in

arteries. Magnesium - Balancer of Calcium; Calcium Supplementation;

Osteoporosis Prevention Protocol

Magnesium acts as a balancer of calcium in our body, much like

progesterone balance the effect of estrogen, and omega-3 balances omega-6 fatty

acids.

Studies have shown that 500 mg a day of magnesium reduce the recurrence

rate of kidney stones by as much as 90%.. Magnesium deficiency can cause

various abnormalities of calcium metabolism, resulting in the formation of

calcium deposits in arteries. Magnesium balances the body's calcium supply and

keeping it from being excreted. Without enough magnesium and other trace

minerals, calcium ingested, especially if excessive, will be deposited not in

the bone but perhaps in the wall of our arteries.

_http://www.lammd.com/A3R_brief_in_doc_format/magnesium_and_osteoporosis.cfm

_

(http://www.lammd.com/A3R_brief_in_doc_format/magnesium_and_osteoporosis.cfm)

_http://www.drlam.com/articles/magnesium_and_osteoporosis.asp?print=yes & page

=1_

(http://www.drlam.com/articles/magnesium_and_osteoporosis.asp?print=yes & page=1)