Maintains the heart muscle & blood vessels
Magnesium deficiency is associated with an increased
incidence of atherosclerosis, high blood pressure,
heart attacks, & strokes. Research shows magnesium
shortages lower good HDL cholesterol and accelerates
hardening of the arteries. The higher the magnesium
inside your cells, the more apt you are to have
lower blood pressure, more elastic blood vessels
and a less enlarged heart. Magnesium helps normalize
Interestingly, magnesium mimics many of the activities
associated with a variety of cardiovascular medications.
It thins blood. It blocks calcium uptake. It acts
as a potent vasodilator by relaxing blood vessels.
It inhibits platelet aggregation. Magnesium maintains
the balance of the clotting mechanisms. It also
increases the oxygen in the heart by improving heart
muscle contractility. Fifteen percent of the population
has what is called mitral valve prolapse (a floppy
This is associated with an increased tendency to
anxiety, an irregular or fast heart rate, palpitations,
and in general a hyper-irritable heart muscle. Studies
have shown 62% of these people are magnesium deficient
and symptoms can be prevented by magnesium administration.
Unfortunately, some widely used cardiac medications
such as digitalis and the diuretics increase urinary
excretion of magnesium and contribute to the deficiency
states. Thus magnesium is an important anti - arrhythmic
agent in treating digitalis toxicity. It also helps
in treating atrial tachycardia and ventricular tachycardia
when used intravenously in these emergency conditions.
Magnesium and osteoporosis
A common mistake is the recommendation by many doctors
and the belief by many people that one need only
supplement calcium to prevent or to treat osteoporosis.
Not only is magnesium essential for bone formation,
but calcium supplementation without magnesium will
contribute to metabolic imbalances and bone loss.
The bones contain 60% of the body's magnesium. With
osteoporosis, there is significant skeletal magnesium
depletion. Magnesium assists in the metabolism and
uptake of calcium. Magnesium depletion promotes
abnormal crystallization of calcium in soft tissues,
such as kidney stones, gall stones, atherosclerosis,
micro-calcifications in the breast and other soft
tissue. Magnesium can help dissolve calcium phosphate
kidney stones, and may prevent the formation of
calcium oxalate kidney stones. Natural estrogen
helps move magnesium into the bones, while certain
synthetic estrogens deplete bodily magnesium.
Magnesium and the parathyroid gland
The parathyroid gland is adjacent to the thyroid
and has a major function of regulating calcium metabolism.
Magnesium synergizes the secretion of parathyroid
Also a magnesium deficiency decreases the ability
of the body to respond to parathyroid hormone. Magnesium
deficiency associated with low blood calcium levels
may create symptoms of parathyroid hormone deficiency.
This low calcium level will not respond to parathyroid
hormone, to Vitamin D, or to calcium supplementation,
but is only corrected with magnesium therapy.
Magnesium and Fibromyalgil
Fibromyalgia is a stiffness and pain syndrome
involving muscles, connective tissues (tendons,
ligaments), bursae, and joints. It is also characterized
by severe fatigue that is unrelieved by sleep because
often Fibromyalgia patients do not get much, if
any, stage 4 (or Delta) sleep~the "healing"
phase of sleep where repair of bodily tissues takes
With Fibromyalgia, two particular minerals are
vitally important. They are: calcium and magnesium.
Calcium helps reduce lactic acid and the damage
or pain it causes to deep muscle tissues. Magnesium
helps to help insure adequate sleep and increase
pain thresholds by preventing nerves from firing
too quickly-or being too "hot" (low pain
Magnesium maintains normal nerve, brain, and muscle
While 60% of the magnesium is in the bones, the
rest is primarily in the cells where it functions
to regulate the transmission of impulses between
brain cells, and from nerves to muscles and organs.
It also maintains normal muscle function and contractility.
Since magnesium regulates the irritability or sensitivity
of the nerves and muscles, a deficiency leads to
neuromuscular hyperexcitability which can be associated
with muscle cramps, twitches, and tremors, tension,
tightness, or soreness.
It is also associated with various spasms, such
as the bronchospasm of asthma, esophageal spasm
(a lump in the throat with difficulty swallowing),
the vascular spasm of migraines; some forms of hypertension,
chest pain and other chronic pain syndromes.
Other forms such as urinary problems and bedwetting,
the spasms of premature labor and menstrual cramps,
shaky leg syndrome and of course the spasms of seizures.
The excitability can also be associated with an
easy startle response, noise and light sensitivity,
numbness and tingling and strange body sensations.
Some of the most dramatic effects of magnesium deficiency
may occur in the central nervous system such as
with the DT's (delirium tremers) of alcoholism,
general anxiety and irritability, nervousness, confusion,
tantrums, insomnia and depression. The symptoms
can even progress to the point of psychotic proportions.
Studies have shown lower magnesium in the blood
of those with active schizophrenia than in those
Magnesium is a co-factor to activate and regulate
over 350 enzyme systems in the body relating to
life supporting biochemical reactions.
It is integrally involved in the production of energy
in the cells via a biochemical reaction and participates
in the formation of the energy reserve of the muscles.
Therefore a deficiency can be associated with fatigue
and weakness. Through its' co-factor functions,
magnesium participates in the synthesis of protein,
and genetic material such as DNA. It is a binding
agent for the genetic material called messenger
RNA. Thus a deficiency can lead to poor growth or
genetic defects. Magnesium works with vitamin C
to build collagen. It assists with temperature regulation.
Magnesium also supports the function of the pancreas.
Magnesium – critical in glucose metabolism, along
with vitamin B1.
It plays a role in the breakdown and digestion of
sugars and fatty acids.
It helps to maintain normal levels of blood fats.
Magnesium deficiency is especially associated with
increased triglycerides and the insulin resistance
known as Syndrome X. Insulin resistance can be reduced
by taking magnesium.
Magnesium acts as a buffering agent to regulate
the acid/alkaline state of the body. It regulates
intracellular fluid and supports the cell membrane,
including permeability. Magnesium is a chelating
& detoxifying agent. It works to maintain proper
Magnesium and Migraines
Magnesium prevents platelet clustering thus helping
to avoid the thickening of blood and tiny clots
that can cause blood vessel spasms and the pain
of a migraine. It also relaxes the head and neck
muscle tension that makes migraines worse.
Half of migraine sufferers have low magnesium and
upping magnesium has reduced the duration, intensity
and frequency of migraines.
Magnesium and Sleep
Sleep in magnesium deficiency is restless, agitated
and disturbed by frequent nighttime awakenings.
However, all forms of magnesium are not equally
effective. In a study of more than 200 patients,
Dr. W. Davis used magnesium chloride as a possible
means of combating insomnia. The researcher reported
that sleep was induced rapidly, was uninterrupted,
and that waking tiredness disappeared in ninety-nine
percent of the patients. In addition, anxiety and
tension diminished during the day. (W. Davis and
F. Ziady, "The Role of Magnesium in Sleep,"
Magnesium and Pregnancy
Extensive research shows that magnesium lessens
pre-eclampsia, in which blood pressure soars in
late pregnancy, upping the risk of spontaneous abortions
and premature, low-birth weight babies. A large
British study of 10,000 women in 33 countries confirms
that taking magnesium reduced the hazard by 50%.
A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association
reported a 70% lower incidence of mental retardation,
and a 90% lower incidence of cerebral palsy in children
of mothers using magnesium during pregnancy.
Using magnesium could counteract the heart attack
and stroke hazards of hormone replacement therapy.
Research shows magnesium counters estrogen's clot-producing
abilities. Magnesium also helps treat premature
ejaculation and relieve certain symptoms of premenstrual
syndrome. The creation of ATP (adenosine triphospate)
the energy molecules of the body, the action of
the heart muscle, the proper formation of bones
and teeth, relaxation of blood vessels, and the
promotion of proper bowel function are all under
the guidance of magnesium.
What depletes or interferes with Magnesium?
High stress contributes to magnesium deficiency
which exacerbates anxiety, fear, weakness and physical
complaints, leading to more stress and a vicious
cycle. The decreased oxygen in the tissues related
to stress, tissue injury, and an acid condition
cause magnesium to move out of the cells into the
blood plasma leading to intracellular deficiency.
Excess sugar, caffeine, carbohydrates, low dietary
protein, prolonged fasting, general malnutrition,
chronic, diarrhea, vomiting, excess zinc, vitamin
D and calcium contribute to magnesium deficiency.
Aluminum, fluoride, and phosphate interfere with
Excess alcohol is a common cause of low magnesium.
Multiple mechanisms are at play. Often those who
drink excessively eat less than optimal diets. Then
the alcohol causes increased urinary loss of magnesium
and increased gastrointestinal losses of magnesium.
The acidotic and alkalotic shifting states which
accompany high alcohol intake further deplete the
magnesium stores. Many of the physical and mental
symptoms of alcoholism are related to depleted magnesium.
Those with diabetes, chronic gastrointestinal disorders,
an overactive thyroid or parathyroid gland or in
the last six months of pregnancy are particularly
prone to low magnesium.
Radiation causes large losses of magnesium and
magnesium has a radiation protective action. Diuretics
are a major villain in magnesium and potassium depletion,
causing loss of both in the urine. Potassium is
the most abundant intracellular mineral with magnesium
ranking second. Magnesium assists in the cellular
uptake of potassium so a magnesium deficiency can
lead to decreased potassium in the cells. Forty
two percent of those with low potassium also have
low magnesium and will not respond to the administration
of potassium until magnesium is added.
"Transdermal Magnesium Therapy" by Mark