Magnesium overlooked in cardiovascular and other conditions

From: Roman Bystrianyk (rbystrianyk_at_gmail.com)
Date: 09/14/04 

Date: 13 Sep 2004 19:35:20 -0700

http://www.healthsentinel.com/news.php?event=news_print_list_item&id=232

Roman Bystrianyk, "Magnesium overlooked in cardiovascular and other
conditions", Health Sentinel, September 14, 2004,

Magnesium is an often overlooked mineral that is essential to life and
important in the prevention and treatment of a variety of conditions,
including high blood pressure, irregular hearth beat, heart attack,
and others. In the August issue of American Journal of Health-System
Pharmacists, author John G. Gums discusses the importance of magnesium
in human health.

Magnesium plays an important role in more than 300 enzyme reactions in
the human body. It is involved in energy metabolism, glucose
utilization, protein synthesis, muscle contraction, and virtually all
hormonal reactions. Magnesium is involved in maintaining cellular
balance and is associated with calcium, potassium, and sodium.
Approximately half the body's magnesium is located in the bones and
the other half in the muscles and other soft tissues. Less than 1% of
magnesium is located in the blood.

Dietary intake of magnesium has declined over time. "The dietary
intake of magnesium declined in the United States from 475-500 mg/day
in 1900 to 215-283 mg/day in 1990, possibly owing to an increase in
the consumption of processed foods. Good sources of magnesium include
green leafy vegetables, grains, dried fruit, shellfish and nuts."

Only 25-65% of magnesium is actually absorbed by the body making it
difficult to reach the recommended daily allowance of 400 mg per day
through diet alone. "The typical dietary intake of magnesium in the
United States provides only 35-75% of the recommended daily amount."

Both thiazide and loop diuretics, that are commonly used to treat high
blood pressure and congestive heart failure [CHF], can lead to low
magnesium and low potassium. This occurs because in the body excretes
more of these minerals through the urine because of these medications.
"One study in hypertensive patients showed that every increase in the
dose of hydrochlorothiazide led to a decrease in serum potassium and
magnesium levels. An estimated 37% of CHF patients treated with
dieuretics are hypomagnesemic [low in magnesium]."

Several studies have linked magnesium deficiency to high blood
pressure. "Magnesium deficiency is associated with many of the disease
states that can lead to hypertension, such as obesity and diabetes. In
addition, magnesium level is inversely related to blood pressure. The
use of diuretics in hypertensive patients may also exacerbate the
underlying hypomagnesemia, further complicating treatment if the
deficiency is not addressed."

Low magnesium occurs in one third of patients with congestive heart
failure and arrhythmias. "A study in patients with complex iatrogenic
[caused by medical treatment] arrhythmias found hypomagnesimia in 30
(38%) of 78 patients upon hospitalization for heart failure, with
excessive magnesium loss in 49 (72%) of the 68 patients that completed
the study."

Evidence suggests that heart attacks are also associated with low
magnesium levels. "Eight early, small, randomized trials involving
nearly 1,000 patients suggested that magnesium supplementation reduced
mortality by as much as 50%."

Low magnesium is also related to levels of blood lipids, lipoproteins,
and triglycerides. The author suggests that, "magnesium
supplementation may prevent some cardiovascular conditions, including
atherosclerosis."

Preeclampsia, is characterized as high blood pressure in combination
with edema during the second half of pregnancy. It is associated with
a significant risk of problems for both mother and baby. Magnesium
given either intravenously or through intramuscular injection is the
treatment of choice for this condition.

The author concludes, "Magnesium is essential to normal homeostatic
mechanisms, and its deficiency may contribute to pathological
processes in cardiovascular disorders, diabetes mellitus,
preeclampsia, and eclampsia. Clinicians should consider using
magnesium supplementation to prevent deficiency in patients at risk
and to treat deficiency when it occurs."

SOURCE: American Journal of Health-System Pharmacists, August 1, 2004,
Vol. 61, pp. 1569-1576

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