This thread is almost 6 yrs old now. Some links below may be outdated, since online sites do not last forever, get updated, moved, and closed. I've fixed the first 5 pages, so that is where the few outdated ones were located.

Most of the important information on this thread is in the first 5 pages, and some new things at the end, with some discussions in between.

I've been posting online for just over a decade now on magnesium and its importance in so many health conditions.
It is estimated that 70% of the American population is deficient in magnesium in the diet. Magnesium is a cofactor in mitochondrial functions, metabolism of fatty acids from the diet, and hundreds of other biochemical reactions in the body that we cannot live without.

Low Magnesium can occur during certain therapies as well. Chemo for cancer is notorius for lowering magnesium. Also diuretics, estrogens and progestins in hormone/birth control treatment, digoxin, steroids, some antibiotics.

Stress, alcohol, and caffeine also deplete magnesium. As would chronic diarrhea.
Diabetics are typically deficient in magnesium as well.

The Linus Pauling Institute has a good monograph about this mineral.
http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocente...ium/index.html

Magnesium is useful in patients with ADD/ADHD and is essential for the
biochemisty of Omega-3s.

People who become depleted of magnesium may succumb to a cardiac event called prolonged Q-T. This is where the heart rhythm becomes stalled,
and the heart stops beating. Many drugs cause Q-T events, and I will post that later on this thread. Chronic pain patients using Methadone need to be watchful, as well as those using amphetamine or methylphenidate for ADHD.
The withdrawn common antihistamines Seldane and Hismanal were taken off the market because of Q-T events occurring when other drugs were used
with them. Propulsid was removed for the same reason when diuretics lowered magnesium in patients, who then died of cardiac arrest while using Propulsid for GERD.

Later on in this thread I will post about which types of magnesium are best to use, and which (magnesium oxide) are not good choices.

Hi Mrs D
just wanted to add that magnesium seems to be a vital factor in Tourette Syndrome supplementation too, with most TS people being deficient in it

Bonnie Grimaldi's research is directed toward this, and this also forms the basis for her BonTech line of supplements for TS

I am soooo appreciating having this forum here!

Hi Mrs. D:
Is there a general rule of thumb for how much magnesium we should have?
I have migraines and I know it helps in prevention.
In addition, can you recommend a good book for a layperson re: taking vitamins and minerals for health or preventing sickness?
Thank you, A.

There are two types of magnesium supplement...
1)inorganic salts
2)organic chelates.

Inorganic salts include epsom salts (magnesium sulfate), magnesium chloride
as found in delayed release forms SlowMag, and its generic equivs MagDelay and Mag64.
And Magnesium Oxide (which time has proven in studies to be next to useless).

The chelates are citrate, lactate, glycinate, malate, taurate..these are the most common. This is magnesium bonded to an amino acid which then allows for better absorption with less stool loosening (a common side effect).

Recent studies have shown that not all magnesium supplements are bioavailable --meaning absorbed well from the GI tract.

Magnesium lactate is the best, most completely absorbed.
Magneisum oxide is the worst, by far, and should be avoided.

The rest provide in intermediate level of success and if you want dual effects, some of the chelates afford those. Magnesium taurate provides taurine, which some Tourette's patients do well on. Taurine is also good for the heart.
Magnesium malate provides malic acid which Fibromyalgia patients often find helpful. Anyone with muscle issues would find this useful.
Magnesium citrate can be very laxative, but some people find this useful if they have chronic constipation.

For many, foods offer a safe and easy way to get enough magnesium. This is best for children, and I prefer this way myself. The Linus Pauling site I posted above gives good food choices to do it this way. It also provides dosing suggestions. When taking a supplement of magnesium, one has to consider how much one is getting from food. Most people do not need high doses of magnesium supplements, for that reason. The general rule of thumb is to take at least 1/2 of the suggested RDA in a supplement form. Also people with renal (kidney) disorders must have their blood checked and some physician supervision while taking magnesium supplements.

Overdosing on oral magnesium usually leads to diarrhea in normal people without kidney issues. So toxicity is difficult to reach. But in babies given enemas (Fleet's) magnesium poisoning is a real danger. Adults with eating disorders who purge this way using enemas like this can become a statistic in a poisoning event. Poisoning with magnesium yearly is rather low risk,
usually in the double digits, nationally. Elderly patients with impaired renal function are also at risk when given enemas, citrate of magnesia for X-rays, or Magnesium sulfate IV. They are not commonly poisoned orally with supplements.

The next thread I post here will be about elemental values.
Many supplements have confusing labels, and you may think you are taking something and really receiving something else.

Because I had meningitis which is considered a brain injury once I finally hooked up with my present good doctor he immediately put me on a high dose of magnesium. The thinking is that in any brain injury the magnesium in the csf fluid that bathes the brain is released and is lowered. I also get IV magnesium once a month at the hospital pain centre, seems to help with the jerks.

You will also find on the web many trauma centres now giving IV mag. as part of the initial head injury protocol, Kindly, Alye

I dont know if it has already been mentioned...
but taking a warm tub with about 2 cups of EPSOM SALTS (aka magnesium sulfate) has tremendous health benefits in detoxification, soothing muscular-skeletal pain and a whole lot more!

I love those epsom salt baths.. They are really nice for older folks too,
since circulation to the feet can be less for them, and hence less of anything
in the bloodstream gets thru to the feet (and fingers too).

So epsom salts really help there, the mag goes right thru the skin.
It also softens the skin and allows for easy removal or maintenance of calluses.

Some people with autistic children find the sulfate portion of the epsom salts
helps them too.

There are creams that contain magnesium.
One is made by Kirkman labs.
http://kirkmanlabs.com/ProductKirkma...mSulfateCream/
Some parents at OBT's autism forum reported that rubbed in before bedtime
settled the children down alot.

Thanks for reminding me, Chemar!

And Thanks for that input Ayle... magnesium sulfate IV is also used for
pregnant women who have eclampsia.

Dear Mrs. D...
Well...I finally got around to checking my magnesium. I actually have two different containers of calcium/mag supplements. Both have Vitamin D in them. I keep one in the kitchen and take 50% dosage with breakfast. The other is on my night stand. I take the other 50% at bedtime.

Vitamin D from cholecalciferol
Calcium from calcium carbonate
Magnesium from magnesium oxide

I gather the magneisum oxide is NOT from a good source. Will stop by Wild Oats this week and look for something else.

What should I look for in a calcium supplement? Vitamin D? Am I likely to get something good in ONE tablet?

MANY thanks for your help.

I have not had much luck with finding the "perfect" mix in one tablet.

I am sure they are out there somewhere, but.....



Many foods/juices have calcium added, don't forget about them.

I use Maalox Max for my calcium...since I need the other ingredient
for my GI issues. It is quick dissolve, and easy.

Magnesium is tough to find a good product...mixtures are often the oxide.
So you may have to do them separately.

This week is really tight for me, but when I get some time, I will look around for you. And post it here or PM you...how is that?

I did a brief look see for combo products... the closest I could find was expensive and by Floradix. But still all the combo products
are fairly low in Vit D...if you want to do 1000IUs the new recommended amount, you will have to take that extra.
Many combo products either have mag oxide or mag oxide mixed with chelated versions..but they do not tell that ratio..
so you may get mostly oxide, because that is the cheapest form.

Labels for supplements can be confusing.

They may give data and it is not clear for example, that you have to take
2-4 tablets to get the amount on the supplement listing. One must read all supplement nutritional labels carefully and not assume they refer to one tablet unless that is listed as such.

Another confusing issue is the concept of ELEMENTAL.

This is very important for minerals: calcium, magnesium, zinc are good examples.

Basically magnesium is a metal, and in its pure form, it is not soluble in water.
Mixed with various other molecules or compounds(chelates), it becomes more
accessible to the body and can be used properly.

It can be mixed with an inorganic molecule:
magnesium oxide
magnesium sulfate
magnesium chloride

OR it can be mixed with an organic compound--usually an amino acid--
which then makes it more absorbable..These are called chelates.
The chelate weighs more than the magnesium and hence the total actual percentage of magnesium itself is lower compared to the weight of the mixture.
The general ratio of magnesium to total chelate weight varies from 8% (for the taurate) to about 12% for some others. One guideline is size. If the tablet label for a chelate is confusing and does not give "elemental" values,
and the tablet is small...don't expect much magnesium. For example magnesium malate is 152mg of magnesium elemental, and 848 mg of malic acid to give a total weight of 1000mg on the label. And it is a huge tablet reflecting that ratio.

This website explains it too:
http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/magnesium.asp
There is a nice chart on this website to help you understand.

The second part of understanding magnesium supplements is understanding
bioavailability..that is after you swallow the tablet, how much can one expect to be absorbed and become useful to the patient.
New evidence has shown the the traditional form, magnesium oxide, is not bioavailable.
Unfortunately, many doctors still consult outdated manuals when prescribing magnesium supplements...and the old oxide persists in their minds.
So I have printed that study here, so interested patients can copy it and take to their doctor. Many people believe that 400mg of magnesium oxide is alot, but in reality only 8mg is actually absorbed..which is very little. That is the lowest reported figure for low magnesium containing foods-- one apple, one hard boiled egg, or 1oz of cheddar cheese. High foods include almonds
3oz=270mg, 1 cup of oatmeal=57 mg, and 1 cup of navy beans=108mg.

Recently I just looked up magnesium products on Puritan's Pride website, and saw some updating in the labeling. This is a very good trend and will help avoid confusion. I hope some other products follow this lead.

One sign that you are not getting your magnesium from your chosen product is loose stools or frank diarrhea. That means the magnesium is remaining in the GI tract, and creating a laxative effect. Either change products or lower the dose used. However, many people do not get diarrhea, especially if they are prone to constipation. Sometimes, they just seem "normal" instead. Others who are more prone to looseness will notice any little extra magnesium.