Magnesium

[Guest guest]

Thanks Janet.

I don't know what you mean by " the ingredient list? " I only know

that the oxide and hydroxide form are the cheapest and least well

absorbed. Also can contribute to diarrhea (unless you are

constipated; in which case they work to help with that.)

The research I've done says that the Glycinate form and the Malate

form are better absorbed than other forms; that's why I use those

forms. Following is a variety of info. I have taken from the net on

magnesium; sorry it's so long:

***********************

" If you want to get the most from a magnesium supplement and minimize

the chance of diarrhea, Dr. Jacques advises taking magnesium

glycinate instead of magnesium oxide or magnesium chloride. Magnesium

glycinate is a form that is readily absorbed, which means two things.

First, it can go right to work and do what it is supposed to do—

prevent constriction of the blood vessels in your brain and scalp.

Second, since it is easily absorbed, it spends less time in the gut

and is less likely to cause loose stools.

Magnesium is also an NMDA antagonist. Most people are deficient in

magnesium, and stress reduces magnesium levels. Magnesium

supplementation is very important for mood, general well-being &

keeping stress levels under control. It is also important to take

magnesium in efficient form, with adequate bioavailability. The best

type is magnesium glycinate (chelated) with bioavailability at around

80%. ****************

Magnesium is an important agent in so many physiological processes

that its uses as a supplement range from depression to bone, muscle,

and joint strengthening to blood vessels protection. The bone,

muscle, and joint part seem to be the reason for your prescription.

Magnesium glycinate is considered the preferred source of magnesium.

This form combines benefits of amino acid glycine & magnesium. It may

also be less laxative and less irritating for the stomach than some

other forms of magnesium

*********************

Magnesium Deficiency in Multiple Sclerosis: The MS-Magnesium

Connections

Symptoms of MS that are also symptoms of magnesium deficiency include

muscle spasms, weakness, twitching, muscle atrophy, an inability to

control the bladder, nystagmus (rapid eye movements), hearing loss,

and osteoporosis. People with MS have higher rates of epilepsy than

controls. Epilepsy has also been linked to magnesium deficiencies.

Here are some interesting studies on multiple sclerosis and

magnesium:

• In a 1995 paper published in the journal Acta Neurologica

Scandinavica, patients with multiple sclerosis were found to be low

in cellular magnesium. 1

• In a 1994 study from researchers at the Department of

Physiology, State University of New York randomly selected hospital

patients, compared to a control group of health volunteers the

hospital patients with coronary heart disease, rectal cancer and

multiple sclerosis exhibited extracellular deficits in ionized free

magnesium. 2

• In a 1990 paper published by researchers from the Wakayama

Medical College, Japan, magnesium (Mg) concentrations were studied in

the brains of 4 patients with definite multiple sclerosis (MS) and 5

controls. The central nervous system tissues and the visceral organs,

except for spleen, of MS patients showed significantly lower

magnesium values than that seen in control cases. 3

• In a 1986 paper published in the journal Medical Hypothesis,

A group of young patients having MS were treated with dietary

supplements containing magnesium, calcium and vitamin D. The results

showed a decrease in the relapse rate compared to what would have

been expected based on the patients prior history of symptoms. 4

• In a case report published in the European Journal of

Neurology, a patient with MS treated with oral magnesium

glycerophosphate therapy, showed significant improvement after only

one week of treatment. 5

**********************

Magnesium is probably the single most important nutrient for pain

relief. It is involved in hundreds of different functions and is

routinely low in the American diet as a result of food processing.

The average American diet supplies less than 300 mg of magnesium per

day, while the average Asian diet supplies over 600 mg per day. I

generally recommend taking 900 mg of malic acid and 150 to 200 mg of

magnesium glycinate a day. If diarrhea and cramps are not a problem,

you can take up to 500 mg of magnesium daily. If you get

uncomfortable diarrhea from the magnesium, cut the dosage back and

then slowly increase the dose as is comfortable.

If your body's magnesium stores are low, your muscles will stay in

spasm and your pain will not resolve. This is one of the reasons that

taking magnesium is so critical. In addition, magnesium is important

for your muscle and body strength and energy. Most of your magnesium

is inside your cells, and the blood tests only measure the magnesium

in your blood, making blood tests an unreliable measure. Almost

everyone with pain should take magnesium, but if you have kidney

failure, discuss your dosage and regimen with your physician.

Magnesium absorption is very difficult, which is why I like to use

the glycinate form. Plain magnesium oxide is also available and is

the most inexpensive form, but your body may not absorb it well.

*****************

Magnesium, as magnesium malate, is needed in a dose of 500 mg 2 x a

day per Dr. Blaylock

*******************

What is Magnesium Malate? Magnesium Malate is a highly absorbable

form of magnesium that provides the benefits of this mineral, along

with the benefits of malic acid, a nutrient found to contribute to

the process of transforming food into ATP, the body's energy source.

*********************

Recent research, in France and several other European countries,

gives a clue concerning the role of magnesium plays in the

transmission of hormones (such as insulin, thyroid, estrogen,

testosterone, DHEA, etc.), neurotransmitters (such as dopamine,

catecholamines, serotonin, GABA, etc.), and minerals and mineral

electrolytes.

This research concludes that it is magnesium status that controls

cell membrane potential and through this means controls uptake and

release of many hormones, nutrients and neurotransmitters. It is

magnesium that controls the fate of potassium and calcium in the

body. If magnesium is insufficient potassium and calcium will be lost

in the urine and calcium will be deposited in the soft tissues

(kidneys, arteries, joints, brain, etc.).

Magnesium protects the cell from aluminum, mercury, lead, cadmium,

beryllium and nickel. Evidence is mounting that low levels of

magnesium contribute to the heavy metal deposition in the brain that

precedes Parkinson´s, multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer´s.

It is probable that low total body magnesium contributes to heavy

metal toxicity in children and is a participant in the etiology of

learning disorders.

********************

Multiple sclerosis: decreased relapse rate through dietary

supplementation with calcium, magnesium and vitamin D.

Goldberg P, Fleming MC, Picard EH.

A group of young patients having multiple sclerosis was treated with

dietary supplements containing calcium, magnesium and vitamin D for a

period of one to two years. The experimental design employed self-

pairing: the response of each patient was compared with his/her own

case history as control. The number of exacerbations observed during

the program was less than one half the number expected from case

histories. No side effects were apparent. The dietary regimen may

offer a new means of controlling the exacerbation rate in MS, at

least for younger patients. The results tend to support a theory of

MS which states that calcium and magnesium are important in the

development, structure and stability of myelin.

PMID: 3537648 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

*****************

Magnesium concentration in brains from multiple sclerosis patients

ACTA NEUROL. SCAND. (Denmark), 1990, 81/3 (197-200)

Magnesium (Mg) concentrations were studied in the brains of 4

patients with definite multiple sclerosis (MS) and 5 controls. The

magnesium contents were determined by inductively coupled plasma

emission spectrometry in autopsy samples taken from 26 sites of

central nervous system tissues, and visceral organs such as liver,

spleen, kidney, heart and lung. The average Mg content in the CNS

tissues, as well as visceral organs except for spleen, of MS patients

showed a significantly lower value than that seen in control cases.

The most marked reduction of Mg content was observed in CNS white

matter including demyelinated plaques of MS samples. Whether or not

these significantly lower Mg contents found in CNS and visceral

organs of MS patients may play an essential role in the demyelinating

process remain unclear, requiring further studies on MS pathogenesis

from the point of metal metabolism.

*******************

MAGNESIUM MALATE

There are several nutritional requirements in the body in order for

mitochondria to manufacture ATP. These essential nutrients include

oxygen, magnesium, food substrate, ADP, and inorganic phosphate, as

well as Vitamin B-1, Vitamin B-2, and Vitamin B-6 in their

phosphorylated forms. The body also needs adequate stores of malate

(an important Krebs cycle intermediate) in order for most of these

nutrients to function effectively in the process of ATP production.

It is now clear that when any of the these nutrients are not present

in adequate amounts within the mitochondria, a vicious cycle can

occur in which ATP is not created in amounts sufficient for proper

cell function. Insufficient amounts of ATP mean that the B vitamins

will not adequately be phosphorylated leading to improper metabolism

and further reductions in ATP production. The much less efficient

anaerobic production of ATP will be utilized to a greater extent in

such cases. A balance point may be reached in which the body produces

only a fraction of the optimal amount of ATP. Under these conditions

muscle weakness and fatigue may occur. Abraham and Flechas reported

that supplementing the diet with magnesium and malic acid may reverse

such conditions of low energy (Jrnl of Nutritional Medicine 3: 49-

59). The recommended daily amounts include 300-600 mg of magnesium

and 1200-2400 mg of malic acid. "

**************************

SO ANYWAY, IT WAS BASED ON THIS RESEARCH THAT I DECIDED TO TAKE BOTH

THE GLYCINATE AND THE MALATE FORM.

MY NEXT THING WILL BE TO ADD THE EAP FORM AS PER HANS NIEPER'S

RESEARCH.

Hope this helps,

Beverly

--- In mscured , " Janet Orchard "

> I take magnesium (the ingredient list stipulates magnesium oxide,

magnesium hydroxide and magnesium stearate). Do you know if the

glycinate/malate have different properties? BTW my foot cramp

stopped when I added spirulina.

> Janet