Lowering Blood Pressure With Magnesium!

By JR Minor

Research now shows that increasing magnesium levels in the body lowers hypertension (high blood pressure) and cardiovascular disease!

According to a Systematic Review and Meta‐analysis published in 2013 by Veronique A. Cornelissen, and Neil A. Smart, the lower the circulating magnesium levels in your body, the higher risk you are for cardiovascular disease! Magnesium functions as an electrolyte (as well as Potassium and Sodium) and carries the brainwaves through the blood stream to the heart. Without proper amounts of electrolytes the electrical signals cannot reach the heart properly.

Reducing Hypertension!

Research shows that magnesium may be a key measure to help manage high blood pressure! Addressing hypertension is extremely important as it is a key factor in stroke and heart disease! Data from 34 clinical trials involving more than 2000 participants found that 200 mg per day resulted in a 22 percent lower risk of fatal ischemic heart disease (IHD). The study also showed that the heart muscle required the most magnesium than any other organ in the body!

Other Research!

Research by the Weston A. Price Foundation found the following data:

* Magnesium inhibits blood clots (like Aspirin).
* Thins the blood like Coumadin
* Blocks calcium intake like Procardia (Channel blocker)
* Relaxes blood vessels like Vasotec (ACE inhibitor drugs)

The researchers stated that the Magnesium alone could be used as a substitute for many of these drugs in proper doses!

Other studies have found that a daily intake of Magnesium can improve muscle and nerve function, including the action of the heart muscle. They may also help regulate blood sugar levels and insulin sensitivity, which is important for the prevention of type 2 diabetes!

The final data collected from a six month clinical trial showed that taking a dose of 368 mg of magnesium daily for three months, lowered systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure by 20 percent.

Drug Interactions!

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA’s) studies found that taking magnesium supplements may have interactions with other medications. If you take one or more of these medications Wait at least 2 hours before taking the magnesium!

Phillips’ Milk of Magnesia®, for example, provides 500 mg elemental magnesium (as magnesium hydroxide) per tablespoon; the directions advise taking up to 4 tablespoons/day for adolescents and adults. (Although such a dose of magnesium is well above the safe upper level, some of the magnesium is not absorbed because of the medication’s laxative effect.) 

Magnesium is also included in some remedies for heartburn and upset stomach due to acid indigestion. Extra-strength Rolaids®, for example, provides 55 mg elemental magnesium (as magnesium hydroxide) per tablet, – Tums® is magnesium free.

Magnesium-rich supplements or medications can decrease the absorption of oral bisphosphonates, such as alendronate (Fosamax®), used to treat osteoporosis

Anti-bio tics such as Tetracyclines, others as demeclocycline (Declomycin®) and doxycycline (Vibramycin®), as well as quinolone antibiotics, such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro®) and levofloxacin (Levaquin®).

Diuretics such as furosemide (Lasix®) and bumetanide (Bumex®), and thiazide diuretics, such as hydrochlorothiazide (Aquazide H®) and ethacrynic acid (Edecrin®), can increase the loss of magnesium in urine and lead to magnesium depletion. In contrast, potassium-sparing diuretics, such as amiloride (Midamor®) and spironolactone (Aldactone®), reduce magnesium excretion!

Reducing Osteoporosis!

National Institute of Health studies have found positive associations between magnesium intake and bone mineral density in both men and women! These and other findings indicate that magnesium deficiency might be a risk factor for osteoporosis. Short-term studies found that 290 mg/day elemental magnesium (magnesium citrate) for 30 days in women and men with osteoporosis suppressed bone turnover, suggesting that bone loss decreased.

Get Tested!

Eating foods rich in magnesium is not the same as taking supplements. Foods get digested and the body processes them in such a way as not to override the system. Taking supplements is different! The FDA recommends a level of no more than 300mg of magnesium from supplements per day unless specified by your health provider!

Don’t Over Do It!

Leading author Dr. Yiqing Song suggests that even with these impressive study results, each person should have their blood tested for levels of magnesium before jumping into a daily regiment of taking supplements! You may already have sufficient levels in your system and too much of anything is not good for the body!