Healing with Vitamins by Editors of Rodale Health Books

Author:Editors of Rodale Health Books
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781605296647
Publisher: Potter/Ten Speed/Harmony/Rodale
Published: 2008-05-15T04:00:00+00:00

Getting Enough Magnesium

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, Dr. Brodsky adds. “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.”

If you have arrhythmia, talk to your doctor about the possibility of magnesium supplementation, Dr. Brodsky suggests. Have your blood level of magnesium checked, and if you start taking magnesium supplements, have your blood levels of magnesium and potassium checked regularly, especially if you are taking large amounts of either of these minerals.

“How much magnesium you need to take depends on the results of your blood tests,” Dr. Brodsky says. “Not everyone needs to take the same amount.”

Dr. Brodsky gives his patients supplements of magnesium lactate. Both magnesium lactate and magnesium gluconate are easily absorbed and are less likely to cause diarrhea than magnesium oxide and magnesium hydroxide, the other forms of magnesium. (Magnesium hydroxide is found in Phillips’ Milk of Magnesia, Mylanta, and Maalox.)

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