More Magnesium Means Better Health

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Orthomolecular Medicine News Service, October 23, 2007

 

 

More Magnesium Means Better Health

 

(OMNS October 23, 2007) Over two-thirds of all Americans do not consume the

recommended daily intake of magnesium. Even more alarming are data from a

study showing that 19% of Americans do not consume even one-half of the

government's recommended daily intake of magnesium. (1) It is therefore not

surprising that disability and death from heart attack and stroke are the

nation’s

leading killers. The National Institutes of Health says, " Magnesium is needed

for more than 300 biochemical reactions in the body. It helps maintain normal

muscle and nerve function, keeps heart rhythm steady, supports a healthy

immune system, and keeps bones strong. Magnesium also helps regulate blood sugar

levels, promotes normal blood pressure, and is known to be involved in energy

metabolism and protein synthesis. There is an increased interest in the role

of magnesium in preventing and managing disorders such as hypertension,

cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. " (2) Inadequate magnesium intake has also

been associated with cancer, asthma, allergies, arthritis, osteoporosis, kidney

stones, migraine headaches, menstrual cramps, PMS, tetany and cramps, and

other conditions as well. (3) A list this long fully justifies increased

concern

about population-wide magnesium deficiency.

 

Foods high in magnesium include nuts, seeds, spinach, yogurt, wheat germ,

and whole grains. Few Americans eat enough of these to ensure an adequate

magnesium intake of 400 mg/day. Magnesium supplements are commonly available as

inexpensive magnesium oxide in 100 or 250 mg tablets. For better absorption,

physicians often prefer amino acid chelated magnesium tablets or magnesium

citrate. Magnesium is available without prescription at discount and health

food

stores everywhere. People typically start supplementation with 200mg per day

and may slowly increase to 600mg per day, taken in divided doses, some with

each meal. (4,5) Persons with kidney failure should not take supplemental

magnesium unless directed to by their physician. Otherwise, magnesium toxicity

is

extremely rare. There have been no deaths from dietary supplementation with

magnesium. (6)

 

References:

 

(1) King D, Mainous A 3rd, Geesey M, Woolson R. Dietary magnesium and

C-reactive protein levels. J Am Coll Nutr. 2005 Jun 24(3):166-71.

(2) _http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/magnesium.asp_

(http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/magnesium.asp)

(3) _http://www.mgwater.com_ (http://www.mgwater.com)

(4) Miller T. 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)

(5) Dean C. The magnesium miracle. _http://www.carolyndean.com_

(http://www.carolyndean.com)

(6) _http://www.aapcc.org/annual.htm_ (http://www.aapcc.org/annual.htm)

 

Orthomolecular medicine uses safe, effective nutritional therapy to fight

illness. For more information: _http://www.orthomolecular.org_

(http://www.orthomolecular.org)

 

The peer-reviewed Orthomolecular Medicine News Service is a non-profit and

non-commercial informational resource.

 

Editorial Review Board:

 

Abram Hoffer, M.D., Ph.D.

Harold D. Foster, Ph.D.

Bradford Weeks, M.D.

Carolyn Dean, M.D., N.D.

Erik Paterson, M.D.

Thomas Levy, M.D., J.D.

Steve Hickey, Ph.D.

 

 

Andrew W. Saul, Ph.D., Editor and contact person.

Email: _omns_ (omns)

 

 

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