Magnesium, Part I
by G. Douglas Andersen, DC, DACBSP, CCN, DACBNOne evening last summer I was flipping through Dr. Melvyn R. Werbach's latest textbook, Foundations of Nutritional Medicine (Dr. Werbach is the author of Nutritional Influences on Illness, a source book of clinical research and an absolute must for anyone who practices clinical nutrition). The first chapter, "Disorders Due to Abnormal Nutriture," summarizes how nutrient deficiencies and excesses affect various disorders.1
In chiropractic school we learned the importance of the mineral magnesium, and that it is required for literally hundreds of biochemical reactions in the body. If you forgot or didn't realize how critical adequate amounts of magnesium are, take a look at the following list of conditions where magnesium deficiency may exacerbate and/or contribute to the problem (this is not to say abnormal magnesium is the only cause or only cure for these disorders):
| Agitation Anorexia Anxiety Apathy Arrhythmias Ataxia Behavioral Disturbances Cognitive Impairment Cold Sensitivity Coma Delirium Depression Diplopia Dry Mouth Dysphagia Edema Epilepsy Fatigue Growth Impairment Hemolytic Anemia Hyperactivity Hypertension Hypotension |
Insomnia Irritability Kidney Stones Lethargy Muscle Fasciculations Muscle Spasms Muscle Tremors Muscle Twitches Muscle Wasting Myalgia Myopathy Nausea Nervousness Neuromuscular Excitability Nystagmus Peripheral Neuropathy Psychosis Sonophobia Tachycardia Tetany Vertigo Vomiting Weakness |
In the December 1996 issue of the American Journal of Natural Medicine, Dr. Michael T. Murray did an extensive review of the literature on magnesium supplementation.2 In addition to Dr. Werbach's findings above, Dr. Murray also documented that magnesium may help in the following:
| Acute Myocardial Infarction Angina Asthma Cardiomyopathy Cardiovascular Disease Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Congestive Heart Failure Diabetes Dysmenorrhea Eosinophilia Myalgia Syndrome Fatigue |
Fibromyalgia Glaucoma Hearing Loss Intermittent Claudication Low HDL Cholesterol Mitral Valve Prolapse Osteoporosis Pregnancy Premenstrual Syndrome Stroke |
Although the vast majority of magnesium problems are due to insufficiency,
too much magnesium can cause, contribute, or exacerbate the following: diarrhea,
hypotension, nausea, vomiting, dry mouth, cognitive impairment, depression,
fatigue, flushing, respiratory insufficiency, and polydypsia.
Next month in part II, we will look at dietary sources and supplemental types of magnesium, along with a review of laboratory tests used to measure magnesium.
References
- Werbach M. Foundations of Nutritional Medicine. Third Line Press, Tarzana, California, 1997.
- Murray MT. American Journal of Natural Medicine December 1996, 3(10):8-19.
G. Douglas Andersen, DC, DACBSP, CCN, DACBN
Brea, California
