MAGNESIUM DEFICIENCY & SUDDEN DEATH

This is of interest to thalassemics. We've known some thals who did suddenly die from heart failure and it was not necessarily related to iron load. Magnesium is so important to heart health and red blood cell survival. If you take calcium, take magnesium with it.

Reprinted from:
http://www.drgrisanti.com/magnesium.htm
MAGNESIUM DEFICIENCY & SUDDEN DEATH

The Grisanti Report

A Reliable Source for Alternative Medical Advice

Report #1260
MAGNESIUM DEFICIENCY & SUDDEN DEATH

Written and Researched by Ronald J. Grisanti D.C., D.A.B.C.O.

An athletic 20 year man is playing basketball and suddenly collapses on the court and dies.

On a hot July day, a young and vibrant college football player suddenly makes a great tackle and never gets up.. only to be pronounced dead 5 minutes later.

High School track runner dies after finishing second in a race.

The sad truth is 1 out of 50,000 young adults will fall victim to Sudden Death.

Most sudden deaths have been linked to a thickened, enlarged heart called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), or by a condition that disturbs the rhythm of the heart called an arrhythmia.  [Editor's note: This is typical of the heart muscle in thalassemics.]

When one sweats, a significant amount of magnesium is lost. Magnesium is the most under-recognized electrolyte disorder in the U.S. Dr. Mildred Seelig, one of the country's leading authorities on magnesium suggests that 80%-90% of the population is deficient is magnesium

It is beyond the extent of this article why the public is being denied the truth of the seriousness of magnesium deficiency and sudden death. The amount of medical research could fill a book, but it is unfortunately being ignored.

According to Micheal A. Brodsky M.D., associate professor of medicine at the University of Medicine and the director of the Cardiac Arrhythmia Service at the University of California.. mineral imbalances interfere with the heart's normal nerve function.

While most athletes have been conditioned to drink a potassium rich drink after sweating.. very few have been educated on the dangers of a magnesium deficiency. Dr. Brodsky states that arrhythmia therapy should focus on replenishing two key minerals: potassium and magnesium.

Almost all physicians have known for some time just how vital potassium is for normal heartbeat. Magnesium is an entirely different story, however. According to Carla Sueta M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of medicine and cardiology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine "apparently, many doctors still don't realize how important a role this mineral can play in some heart patients. In fact, most never check the magnesium level. She has shown through her research that magnesium reduced the incidence of several types of ventricular arrhythmia by 53 to 76 percent.

Magnesium deficiency can be induced by the very drugs meant to help heart problems. Some types of diuretics (water pills) cause the body to excrete both magnesium and potassium, as does digitalis. And magnesium deficiency is often at the bottom of what's called refractory potassium deficiency. The amount of magnesium in the body determines the amount of a particular enzyme that determines the amount of potassium in the body," he explains. So if you are magnesium-deficient, you may in turn be potassium-deficient, and no amount of potassium is going to correct this unless you are also getting enough magnesium.

The Best Test To Determine Your Level of Magnesium

Although most physicians rarely check this important mineral, the few that do usually rely on test called Serum Magnesium. Unfortunately, this test only measures approximately 1% of the magnesium in your body.. a poor test at best. The "Gold Standard" and the most accurate test is the RBC Minerals or more commonly called Elemental Analysis in Packed Erythrocytes. This test examines the levels of eight minerals and seven toxic heavy metals. The erythrocyte is the red blood cell that floats in our serum to carry oxygen to our cells. The minerals this test analyzes from inside the red blood cell includes magnesium, manganese, molybdenum, potassium, selenium, vanadium and zinc. Another test which has proven to be extremely valuable in detecting magnesium deficiencies is called the Urine Magnesium Loading Test. In this test, the patient collects a 24-hour urine sample and the total magnesium is measured. The patient is then given a dose Magnesium Chloride 18% and another 24-hour urine specimen is collected. The magnesium is again measured. If the body retains more than a certain amount of magnesium, then it is concluded that the body is magnesium deficient.

Common Symptoms of Magnesium Deficiency

The most common symptoms include back and neck pain, muscle spasms, anxiety, panic disorders, Raynaud's spastic vessels, arrhythmia, fatigue, eye twitches, vertigo, migraines.

Best Sources of Magnesium

The best way of insuring enough magnesium is to eat a variety of whole foods, including whole grains, nuts, seeds and vegetables, preferably food grown on naturally composted soil. The green color of green vegetables is due to chlorophyll, which is a molecule that contains magnesium. Avoid refined processed foods, especially white sugar and white flour products, as most magnesium is removed from them.

Dr. Grisanti's Comments:

If you are suffering with a heart problem and have not had your magnesium checked, then I want to urge you to have your physician order the two tests listed above. Unless you have proof that your magnesium is within normal levels, I want you to realize that you are playing with your health!

 

References

1:Eisenberg MJ, Magnesium deficiency and sudden death (editorial), AM Heart J 1992 Aug; 124(2):544-9

2:Magnes Res 1994 Jun;7(2):145-53

3:Tzivoni, Dan, M.D. and Keren, Andre, M.D., "Suppression of Ventricular Arrhythmias by Magnesium", The American Journal of Cardiology, June 1, 1990;65:1397-1399.

4:Miner Electrolyte Metab 1993;19(4-5):323-36

5:Keller, Peter K. and Aronson, Ronald S., "The Role of Magnesium in Cardiac Arrhythmias", Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases, May/June 1990;32(6):433-448.

6:Biochim Biophys Acta 1993 Oct 20;1182(3):329-32

7:Biochim Biophys Acta 1994 Jan 11;1225(2):158-64

8:"Practical Briefings: Clinical News You Can Put Into Your Practice Now. Ventricular Arrhythmias and Magnesium", Patient Care, October 15, 1990;16-20

9:Magnes Res 1993 Jun;6(2):191-2
10:Hennekens (1987) Epidemiology Medicine, p.54-98

11:Schriftenr Ver Wasser Boden Lufthyg 1993;88:474-90

12:Am J Cardiol 1992 Oct 8;70(10):44C-49C

13:Fiziol Zh SSSR Im I M Sechenova 1992 Jul;78(7):71-7

 

© 2001  Ronald J. Grisanti D.C., D.A.B.C.O
NOTICE: This information is provided for educational purposes. Any medical procedures, dietary changes, or nutritional supplements discussed herein should only be undertaken on the advice of a qualified physician.

Ronald J. Grisanti, D.C., D.A.B.C.O
The Grisanti Center of Integrative Medicine
4200 East North Street, Suite 14 • Greenville, SC 29615
(864) 292-0226 • FAX: (864) 268-7022

Reprinted from:
http://www.drgrisanti.com/magnesium.htm

Thanks for sharing Andy,that article sure is an eye opener.

Zaini.

Andy , very important article for thals and non thals, thanks a lot

manal

Thank you Andy

I at times have muscle spasms and eye twitching for one or two weeks.  I knew that I had some deficiency but never knew which.

Jade

Thank you Andy for this information.
I will bring it up with my specialist at the next appointment.

Speaking of Magnesium, i received this study from our member Mohamed and it is very interesting

The effect of dietary magnesium supplementation on the cellular abnormalities of erythrocytes in patients with beta thalassemia intermedia

http://www.haematologica.org/cgi/content/abstract/83/2/118

Thanks to Mohamed

manal

Thanks Andy,

You know what? I've been told that (10 years ago) that i am low in magnesium. Never thought that it is that important and the doctor does not mention anything about it. Maybe its not that low.

Well thanks again for the article, It does help looking it at another perspective.

LATER

I at period have strength spasms and ogle twitching intended for one or two weeks.  I knew that I had some lack but by no means knew which.  I will visit my doctor again this week.

Magnesium deficiency in the body can cause the following: loss of appetite; disorientation; confusion; psychotic behavior; depression; tremors; convulsions; numbness, tingling, and cramps in the muscles; vasodilation, or widening of the blood vessels; coronary spasms; abnormal heart rhythms; seizures; and irritability of the nervous system.


How Much Magnesium Do We Require?

The Recommended Dietary Allowance, or RDA for males are: 410 mg for ages 14 to 18; 400 mg for ages 19 to 30; 420 mg for ages 31 and above. The RDA for females are:360 mg for ages 14 to 18; 310 mg for ages 19 to 30; 320 mg for ages 31 and above. During pregnancy the RDA is increased to 40 mg.

Abbas

causes of Mg Deficiency........
magnesium deficiency is caused because of magnesium being depleted excessively through the urine; disorders of the gastrointestinal system that leads to magnesium not being absorbed adequately or excessive loss of magnesium in the stool; or the intake of magnesium being chronically low.
Treatments that involve diuretics, certain medications used for treating cancer, and certain antibiotics, can lead to an increase of the loss of magnesium through urine. Diabetes that is not adequately controlled can result in magnesium being lost excessively in urine, resulting in the magnesium stores in the body being depleted. Alcohol also leads to magnesium being excreted excessively in the urine, and a high intake of alcohol has been linked to magnesium deficiency. Excessive or chronic diarrhea and vomiting can also lead to magnesium deficiency due to the depletion of the mineral.

Magnesium Deficiency Treatment with Magnesium Supplements

In case magnesium deficiency is suspected, your doctor will check the blood levels of magnesium. If there is only a mild deficiency of magnesium, it can be restored to normal just by increasing the intake of magnesium in the diet. Adults at risk of magnesium deficiency can get their recommended amounts of the mineral by consuming dark green leafy vegetables as well as at least five servings of vegetables and fruits every day. Rice, wheat bran, and oats are some of the grains that are high in magnesium.

An intravenous drip may be required if the magnesium levels in the blood are very low, in order to get back to normal levels. Your doctor may also prescribe magnesium supplements, although some types, especially magnesium salts, can lead to diarrhea. Most health food outlets have magnesium oxide, which is a form of magnesium that is absorbed the least efficiently by the human body. Some medical experts are of the opinion that magnesium malate is one the best supplements for the treatment of magnesium deficiency, since it is absorbed the most efficiently by the human body.
Mild magnesium deficiency can be treated with a daily dose of magnesium supplements, either orally or I.M.
Severe magnesium deficiency can be treated with magnesium sulfate supplement being administered intravenously, with 10-40 mEq/L being diluted in the intravenous fluid.

I've known for quite a long time that magnesium should be tested by RBC test or loading test.
The problem is that both tests are not available in my country and it would be a big problem to send the samples abroad.
I can have 24h urine collection tested for magnesium, but nobody would give me magnesium chloride injection - because it has to be injection, and the dose has to be adjusted to match your body weight (I think).
I was wondering if somebody had a different test or oral magnesium loading?

************
Magnesium works for me very well. I just can feel it working - no muscle spasm and no itching. But the magnesium test would tell me how much magnesium I should take. And the doses I took in the beginning of magnesium therapy were 3 times label usage...
And this is exactly the problem - what doses should I take in case of magnesium deficiency...

Magnesium can be considered strong antioxidant, as it helps regenerate enzymes that fight reactive oxigen species. I don't remember which ones exactly (superoxide dismutases or other), but their action is stronger than any vitamin and antioxidant ingested...
It is not direct antioxidant, but it is...