Health and Nutrition Info
By Didrik J. Sopler, Ph.D, L.Ac.
01-23--06

 

Magnesium a very important mineral

We usually think of magnesium as an important mineral for bone formation, but magnesium is important for a variety of reasons.

Several studies point to the importance of magnesium in both cardiovascular disease and insulin resistance.

Conditions that may be associated with magnesium deficiency and have shown to benefit from magnesium supplementation in clinical studies include hypertension, congestive heart failure, arrhythmia, myocardial infarction, diabetes and preeclampsia1.

In an article published in the journal Magnesium Research, the authors concluded that magnesium is required for both proper glucose utilization and insulin signaling2. They continued by saying that metabolic alteration in cellular magnesium, which may play a role of a second messenger for insulin action, contribute to insulin resistance.

Insulin resistance by itself is a risk factor for adult onset diabetes and also cardiovascular disease because it is known to increase systemic inflammation.

Together with stress, magnesium deficiency may lead to arrhythmic, hemodynamic and ischemic changes in the heart3. Chronic magnesium deficiency is accompanied by increased free radical generation. The free radicals are known to affect myocardial excitability and contractility.

Many studies points out that magnesium plays an important role in modulating insulin-mediated glucose uptake and vascular tone4,5,6,7. The correction of low magnesium levels may improve glucose handling.

When taking magnesium supplements it is important to keep in mind that not all forms of magnesium is equally well absorbed and utilized by the body.

In fact the difference can be huge. The most common form of magnesium supplement is magnesium oxide, not because it is the best, but because it is cheap to manufacture. In higher amounts it can cause diarrhea because it is irritating to the gastrointestinal tract.

A better alternative is a patented amino acid chelate which guarantees that it is a real amino acid chelate.

In that form magnesium does not irritate the gastrointestinal tract and does not cause diarrhea. It is also absorbed a lot better.

To see a comparison between different forms of magnesium you can log onto www.tissuerecovery.com and click on the BMJ formula.

Magnesium is also better taken together with calcium and other minerals, that is why a complex formula like the BMJ formula is a good way to get your magnesium.

Wishing you the best of health,

Didrik

References:

  1. Gums JG. Magnesium in cardiovascular and other disorders. Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2004 Aug 1;61(15):1569-76.
  2. Takaya J, Higashino H, Kobayashi Y. Intracellular magnesium and insulin resistance. Magnes Res. 2004 Jun;17(2):126-36.
  3. Nair RR, Nair P. Alteration of myocardial mechanics in marginal magnesium deficiency. Magnes Res. 2002 Dec;15(3-4):287-306.
  4. Barbagallo M, Dominguez LJ, Galioto A, etc al. Role of magnesium in insulin action, diabetes and cardio-metabolic síndrome X. Mol Aspects Med. 2003 Feb-Jun;24(1-3):39-52.
  5. Paolisso G, Barbagallo M. Hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and insulin resistance: the role of intracellular magnesium. Am J Hypertens. 1997 Mar;10(3):346-55.
  6. Paolisso G, Sgambato S, Gambardella A, et al. Daily magnesium supplements improve glucose handling in elderly subjects. Am J Clin Nutr. 1992 Jun;55(6):1161-7.
  7. Nadler JL, Buchanan T, et al. Magnesium deficiency produces insulin resistance and increased thromboxane synthesis. Hypertension. 1993 Jun;21(6 Pt 2):1024-9.