Re: opinions needed -- Roxxe, magnesium dose

[Guest guest]

Roxxe,

Below are the USDA magnesium RDA for children. Keep in mind that the

RDA was established as a MINIMUM amount required to prevent death --

not maintain or support health. The NIH recognizes that this is a

huge discrepancy. Also, the RDA doesn't factor in people with

impaired (chronic) health issues, nor malabsorption syndromes (such

as CF), and the NIH recognizes the failing of this too.

Also, keep in mind that just like many meds deplete the body of

magnesium, there are other things that can hinder magnesium

absorption from food. If your diet is too high in fiber, sugar, fat

and protein, then magnesium absorption from the intestines is

hampered. Some studies suggest it may make a difference whether the

protein is vegetable or animal based, other studies suggest it

doesn't matter. The only difference is for adolescents and teens;

they absorb more magnesium when they eat more protein. I guess it's

the growing years, I don't know and I haven't found info that says

why this is so.

Remember, these numbers represent the MINIMUM daily amount required

to prevent death in " healthy " people, *not* support, maintain, or

promote health (especially when health is already a challenge):

Children 1 - 3 years = 80 mg./day

Children 4 - 8 years = 130 mg./day

Children 9 - 13 years = 240 mg./day

Boys 14 - 18 years = 410 mg./day

Girls 14 - 18 years = 360 mg./day

Men 19 - 30 years = 400 mg./day

Women 19 - 30 years = 310 mg./day

Men 31 - >70 years = 420 mg./day

Women 31 - >70 years = 320 mg./day

Now then, a few years ago, the USDA raised the minimum RDA, but the

NIH and USDA have been talking about the need to increase it again.

There's a nutritionist in California by the name of Krispin, who has

extensively studied magnesium. She uses a scale for determining a

better RDA, which is:

5 to 10 milligrams per day per kilo of ideal body weight, or

2.5 to 4.5 milligrams per day per pound of ideal body weight.

I asked her what she meant ideal, since it threw some of us off. She

said that if you currently weigh 150 pounds, but ideally you're

supposed to weigh 110 pounds, then you dose your magnesium based on

the 110 pounds. Sounds weird to me, but whatever.

Here are examples from her web site at

http://www.krispin.com/magnes.html, which may help you determine the

right dose for you or your loved ones:

" EXAMPLES: 130 lb. Female, migraine headaches, insomnia, muscle

tension/soreness. 130 lbs. times 4.5 milligrams equals total intake-

500-600 mg. total per day (supplement 100-200 mg. 1-3 times a day or

if using a calcium supplement containing 1,000 mg calcium and 500 mg

magnesium this may meet your need.) 88 kilo male, athlete in

training, some injury with athletic performance 10 mg. equals total

intake 880 mg. (100-200 mg. 3-6 times a day.)

Maximum daily intake of magnesium is probably 15 mg. per kilo of

ideal body weight or 6.8 mg. per pound of body weight in rare cases,

under medical supervision for short periods of time. Your body must

be your guide. How do you feel? Do you have energy? Are you flexible?

Do you sleep well? Are you free from degenerative disease symptoms? "

Again, keep in mind that everyone is different! You might want to

start with the lowest dose and work up, or just jump right in. I

began by adding 100 mg. and increasing by 100 mg. over a couple

months, finally hitting 400 mg. a day. In hindsight, for MY body, I

chould have just jumped right in and would have seen better, faster

results (though I did see great results in just 48 hours).

Hope this info helps... again, listen to your body. Sara said she

feels the need to nap after taking 200 mg. in the afternoon. But if I

have a sinus headache, I can take 200 mg. magnesium along with 200

mg. ibuprofen at 2:00 am and be asleep before my head hits the

pillow. However, if I take just 100 mg. magnesium after 7:00 pm,

chances are I'll be wide awake mopping the floors at 2:00 am!

And most importantly -- DON'T take magnesium (or any minerals) right

before antibiotics! Wait at least two hours after antibiotics or the

minerals will conflict and you'll lose antibiotic efficacy.

Kim

But the best thing to do is really watch the foods you eat and drink;

limit soda pop for kids since the phosphates will take magnesium and

calcium right out of them.

> Kim,

> How much magnesium is safe to give a child age 10?

>

> Roxxe