Chronic Fatigue Syndrome by Michael T. Murray N.D

Author:Michael T. Murray, N.D.
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Potter/Ten Speed/Harmony/Rodale
Published: 2020-12-30T16:00:00+00:00

Magnesium

An extremely important mineral to sufferers of chronic fatigue, magnesium is the second most predominate mineral within our cells, next to potassium. Approximately 60% of the magnesium in the body is found in bone, 26% in muscle, and the remainder in soft tissue and body fluids. Magnesium’s primary function is its ability to activate enzymes. Like potassium and other electrolytes, magnesium is involved in maintaining the electrical charge of cells, particularly muscles and nerves. Magnesium is involved in many cellular functions including energy production, protein formation, and cellular replication.5

Severe magnesium deficiency is characterized by mental confusion, irritability, weakness, heart disturbance, and problems in nerve conduction and muscle contraction. Other symptoms of magnesium deficiency may include muscle cramps, loss of appetite, insomnia, and a predisposition to stress.5

Magnesium deficiency is extremely common in the geriatric population and in women during the premenstrual period. Magnesium deficiency is often secondary to factors which reduce absorption or increase secretion such as high calcium intake, alcohol, surgery, diuretics, liver disease, kidney disease, and oral contraceptive use.

The RDA for magnesium is 350 milligrams per day for adult males and 300 milligrams per day for adult females. For pregnant and lactating women the recommended allowance is 450 milligrams per day. Nutritional experts think that the ideal magnesium intake should be based on body weight (6 milligrams/kilograms body weight). For a 110-pound person, the recommendation would be 300 milligrams; for a 154-pound person, 420 milligrams; for a 200-pound person, 540 milligrams.

The average intake of magnesium by healthy adults in the United States ranges between 143 and 266 milligrams per day.12 This is far below the RDA. Poor food choices are the main reason. Since magnesium occurs abundantly in whole foods, most nutritionists and dietitians assume that we get enough magnesium in our diet. But most Americans are not eating whole, natural foods. They are consuming large quantities of processed foods. Since food processing refines out a very large portion of magnesium, most Americans are not getting enough. What is the result of this low dietary magnesium? A higher susceptibility to a variety of diseases, including heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney stones, cancer, insomnia, PMS, and menstrual cramps.

The best dietary sources of magnesium are tofu, legumes, seeds, nuts, whole grains, and green leafy vegetables. Fish, meat, milk, and most commonly eaten fruits are quite low in magnesium. Most Americans consume a low magnesium diet because their diet is high in refined foods, meat, and dairy products.

Magnesium and Chronic Fatigue An underlying magnesium deficiency, even if subclinical, can result in chronic fatigue and symptoms similar to CFS. Low red-blood-cell magnesium levels, a more accurate measure of magnesium status than routine blood analysis, have been found in many patients with chronic fatigue and CFS. This data alone suggests that magnesium supplementation may help improve energy levels.

Recently, researchers in the United Kingdom conducted a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to assess the effect of magnesium supplementation on CFS.13 Thirty-two patients received either an intramuscular injection of magnesium sulfate (1 gram in 2 milliliters injectable water) or a placebo (2 milliliters injectable water) for six weeks.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.