Diseases and Issues Associated With Magnesium Deficiency

[Guest guest]

This is not a complete list of all the issues and diseases associated and

improved with magnesium, but does give an idea of how important magnesium

is.....

 

....taken from ......

THE ROLE OF MAGNESIUM IN THE PREVENTION OF CORONARY DISEASE AND OTHER

DISORDERS

_http://www.mgwater.com/tmiller.shtml_

(http://www.mgwater.com/tmiller.shtml)

By Tom Miller

 

Diseases and Issues Associated With Magnesium Deficiency

 

Heart Disease

 

Magnesium deficiency plays several critical roles in the maintenance of a

healthy heart. Heart muscle cells require magnesium as do smooth muscle

cells and elastica in coronary arteries. I’ve included a separate section on

how magnesium deficiency causes atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis

(hardening of the arteries; athero is caused by fats, and arterio is caused by

mineral deposits).

 

Although most doctors are unaware, magnesium chloride is the single best

treatment following myocardial infarction (heart attack) prior to

reperfusion (getting blood back to the affected area). The protocol for a major

clinical study by the National Institute of Health (NIH) has been written,

accepted and recently funded. The study will be known as the MAGIC study

(MAGnesium In Coronaries) and will include 10,500 MI (Myocardial Infarction)

patients across the country.

 

 

Mitral Valve Prolapse

 

The mitral valve or bicuspid valve is a heart valve that consists of two

triangular flaps between the left auricle and ventricle. Magnesium

deficiency has been linked to a condition where the mitral valve malfunctions

due to

slippage from its normal position. Mitral valve prolapse causes the heart

to become less effective in pumping blood and some researchers believe

magnesium helps to prevent and even correct this condition.

 

 

Cancer

 

There is evidence that magnesium deficiency plays a role in oncogenesis in

certain types of cancers. Changes in cell chemistry have a direct impact

on RNA and DNA. Magnesium plays a role in polypeptide chains and is

suspected of performing a role as an oxygen free radical scavenger.

 

 

Diabetes

 

The role of magnesium in diabetes has been scientifically well established

for over 35 year. Magnesium influences insulin production and function. I

have spoken with Dr. Jerry Nadler of the City of Hope here in Los Angeles.

Although research into this area is not well accepted, it is not new.

Magnesium has been effectively used to treat brittle diabetics. (Diabetics who

frequently oscillate between high and low blood sugar.)

 

In Europe, magnesium has long been used to treat insulin resistant

diabetes and decompensated diabetics developing acidosis and ketosis. (Acidosis

is

low blood and body tissue pH. Ketosis is an abnormal increase in ketone

bodies).

 

 

Asthma and Allergies

 

The role of magnesium in lung function is currently being investigated by

a number of researchers. Low magnesium intake is strongly correlated with

the etiology (causes) of asthma and chronic obstructive airway diseases.

Patients treated with simple dietary magnesium supplementation have reported

marked improvement. Inhalation of soluble magnesium compounds has also been

reported to provide relief.

 

Magnesium is also reported to suppress histamine production. Some allergy

sufferers have reported relief through dietary magnesium supplements.

 

 

Arthritis

 

Because magnesium suppresses PTH (a mineral transport hormone) and

stimulates calcitonin (a polypeptide of 32 amino acid residues), it helps

remove

calcium from soft tissues eliminating some forms of arthritis. Copper is a

metal ion long suspected as playing a role in preventing arthritis. Copper

is complementary to magnesium uptake and may therefore reduce calcitic

arthritis by providing more magnesium absorption.

 

 

Osteoporosis

 

Research has clearly established a link between osteoporosis and magnesium

deficiency. Although most women have heard of the need for calcium

supplementation following menopause, few are aware that magnesium is equally

important. In fact, increasing calcium without increasing magnesium can

actually

cause more harm than good. According to Seelig and other researchers,

calcium to magnesium ratios in excess of 2:1 should be avoided.

 

Dr. Guy Abraham, M.D. has found strong evidence to suggest that women with

osteoporosis have a deficiency of a chemical that is made when they take

twice as much magnesium as calcium. In fact, he found that when calcium

intake is decreased, it is utilized better than when it is present in high

levels. Dr. Abraham advocates taking more magnesium to correct calcium

deficiency related diseases.

 

 

Kidney Stones

 

Seelig and Bunce have clinically proven the relationship between kidney

stones and magnesium deficiency. The most common form of kidney stones is

calcium oxalate. As early as 1964 Moore and Bunce reported the benefits of

administering 420 mg of MgO per day to patients with long histories of

frequent stone formation.

 

Blaine Company has marketed an MgO tablet under the tradename Uro-Mag for

over 40 years. It is a well-established treatment for kidney stones.

 

 

Migraine

 

Magnesium deficiency has been linked to the onset of migraine headaches.

Magnesium plays a role in vasodilation and is thought to behave like a

calcium channel blocker at the cellular level. Calcium channel blockers are

frequently prescribed to migraine sufferers.

 

 

Eclampsia

 

Magnesium deficiency has been directly linked to eclampsia, a condition

which causes life threatening convulsions and severe hypertension which may

necessitate early termination of pregnancy with low birth weight babies. Mg

treatment is classic for control of Eclampsia.

 

More recently magnesium has been shown to decrease the likelihood of

pre-term birth. It has been suggested that pregnant mothers supplement their

magnesium intake to meet the high magnesium needs placed on them by the fetus.

Clinical trials have demonstrated that mothers supplementing with MgO have

larger, healthier babies.

 

In Germany there have been thousands of cases demonstrating this effect.

(Conradt, Staepling and Weideinger recommend oral Mg supplements during

pregnancy)

 

 

Menstrual Cramps and PMS

 

Increasing dietary magnesium often decreases menstrual cramping as well as

PMS. Calcium causes muscles to contract, while magnesium helps them to

relax. Dietary calcium gives temporary relief of menstrual cramps. However,

calcium also depletes the body of magnesium and ensures cramping will occur

in the following month if magnesium is not replenished.

 

 

Athletic Stamina

 

Magnesium supplementation has been used to enhance the performance of

endurance athletes such as long distance marathoners, swimmers, and cross

country skiers. Magnesium shifts the cellular energy production from anaerobic

to aerobic. This is a more efficient mode of energy production and greatly

reduces production of lactic acid.

 

 

Triglyceride and LDL/HDL Reduction

 

Dietary magnesium supplementation has been reported to reduce triglyceride

levels and reduce the ratio of LDL to HDL. These are two critical factors

closely related to heart disease.

 

 

Skin Tone

 

It has been reported that Mg supplementation may play a role in

maintenance of skin flexibility and tone. Connective tissue is reportedly more

flexible when magnesium levels are correct.

 

 

Bone Mass and Flexibility

 

Magnesium imparts flexibility to bone predominately because of its role in

the bone matrix. (The organic portion of the bone.) Magnesium behaves like

flexible glue in bones. Industrial cements produced from magnesium rather

than calcium are up to 6 times stronger and more flexible than conventional

calcium-based Portland cement.

 

 

Tetany

 

Farmers currently supplement cattle feed with MgO to prevent grass tetany,

milk fever, or grass staggers. Loss of brain magnesium induces cerebral

dysfunction, convulsions and death in beef and dairy cattle. Similar

conditions are observed in hypomagnesiemic human patients.

 

 

Cerebral Palsy

 

A very interesting and exciting new finding is that women with other

complications, that were treated with magnesium, had 1/7 the likelihood of

their

low birth weight babies developing cerebral palsy.

 

 

Leg Cramps

 

Leg and muscle cramping can be caused by magnesium deficiency through

production of lactic acid or reduction of arterial blood flow. Both can be

improved and often eliminated through dietary magnesium supplementation.

 

 

Stress

 

Magnesium is used by some doctors to treat mental stress. On the periodic

chart, magnesium appears near lithium. Lithium is often used to treat

stress and related disorders. Magnesium plays a role in mediating calcium

dependent synapse reactions relating to neurotransmissions.

 

 

Delirium Tremors

 

Alcohol depletes magnesium and can cause magnesium deficiency. This has

been tied to hallucinations and convulsions recognized as delirium tremors.

 

Alzheimer’s and dementia are also suspected to be linked to magnesium

deficiency.

 

 

 

References

[ over 25 references here]

(This is actually only a small fraction of the works reviewed. If you

would like more, give me a call.)