Vitamin B12 deficiency and you

Just been exploring vitamin B12 deficiency: Since vitamin B12 plays a role in so many bodily functions, it’s no wonder B12 deficiency has been linked to a variety of serious health conditions. Studies have shown that over time, a B12 deficiency that is not corrected can lead to the following: 1)Heart disease 2)Certain types of cancer 3)Alzheimer’s 4)Fibromyalgia 5)Stroke 6)Chronic depression 7)tinnitus 8)erectile dysfunction A vitamin B12 deficiency will cause high homocysteine levels in the bloodstream. High homocystein levels in the bloodstream can be toxic and lead to the development of serious diseases like cancer, heart disease, stroke and even Alzheimer’s disease. Conversely, getting enough B12 will help you avoid these diseases by naturally lowering your homocysteine levels. The important role vitamin B12 plays in the brain means that a deficiency, especially when it is undetected for a long time, will disrupt brain function and lead to problems that are difficult to reverse. The brain and nervous system are impacted the most from a B12 deficiency. Even when the deficiency is corrected with better nutrition and supplements, impaired neural functioning may persist. It may be some time before chemicals in the brain are balanced and depression is alleviated, and the patient may have an elevated risk of developing Alzheimer’s in the future. B12 deficiency can easily be responsible for many all-too-common illnesses such as fatigue, depression, memory loss, brain fog all the way on to dementia, Alzheimers, Autism, and many more. It can mimic the symptoms of MS and Parkinsons. These are illnesses that we will ALL come across at sometime in our lives, either affecting ourselves or someone dear to us. And age has nothing to do with it. B12 deficiency can affect everyone. And if our doctors look at B12 deficiency before they look at anything else, many of these illnesses can be treated simply, quickly and cheaply long before they become a threat, long before they destroy a life, long before they devastate families and ultimately affect probably millions of people As a vegetarian (mostly) I suspect I may be short of this vitamin - I have been experiencing tired legs on even mild exertion and ear problems (tinnitus,etc) so went to a health food shop in Chorley and bought some vitamin B12. The sort suggested from my internet research is methylocobalmin 1000UG tablets taken sublingually - from Solgar. Since taking it every day for a few days I have felt more energy and my tinnitus has deminished. will keep posted

burning incense lowers anxiety and depression

Incense is psychoactive: Scientists identify the biology behind the ceremony


Religious leaders have contended for millennia that burning incense is good for the soul. Now, biologists have learned that it is good for our brains too. In a new study appearing online in The FASEB Journal (http://www.fasebj.org), an international team of scientists, including researchers from Johns Hopkins University and the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, describe how burning frankincense (resin from the Boswellia plant) activates poorly understood ion channels in the brain to alleviate anxiety or depression. This suggests that an entirely new class of depression and anxiety drugs might be right under our noses.

“In spite of information stemming from ancient texts, constituents of Bosweilla had not been investigated for psychoactivity,” said Raphael Mechoulam, one of the research study’s co-authors. “We found that incensole acetate, a Boswellia resin constituent, when tested in mice lowers anxiety and causes antidepressive-like behavior. Apparently, most present day worshipers assume that incense burning has only a symbolic meaning.”

To determine incense’s psychoactive effects, the researchers administered incensole acetate to mice. They found that the compound significantly affected areas in brain areas known to be involved in emotions as well as in nerve circuits that are affected by current anxiety and depression drugs. Specifically, incensole acetate activated a protein called TRPV3, which is present in mammalian brains and also known to play a role in the perception of warmth of the skin. When mice bred without this protein were exposed to incensole acetate, the compound had no effect on their brains.

“Perhaps Marx wasn’t too wrong when he called religion the opium of the people: morphine comes from poppies, cannabinoids from marijuana, and LSD from mushrooms; each of these has been used in one or another religious ceremony.” said Gerald Weissmann, M.D., Editor-in-Chief of The FASEB Journal. “Studies of how those psychoactive drugs work have helped us understand modern neurobiology. The discovery of how incensole acetate, purified from frankincense, works on specific targets in the brain should also help us understand diseases of the nervous system. This study also provides a biological explanation for millennia-old spiritual practices that have persisted across time, distance, culture, language, and religion—burning incense really does make you feel warm and tingly all over!”

According to the National Institutes of Health, major depressive disorder is the leading cause of disability in the United States for people ages 15–44, affecting approximately 14.8 million American adults. A less severe form of depression, dysthymic disorder, affects approximately 3.3 million American adults. Anxiety disorders affect 40 million American adults, and frequently co-occur with depressive disorders.

Perhaps people should burn incense and throw away the prozac!

3 minute depression cure for real?

I came across an ad today for the '3 minute cure for depression' by mike freeman
I then spent half an hour (10 X 3!)looked on the internet to see if anyone had purchased it ($100),and found this comment:

"Like a mug I sent for it. It's basically, if the life you have isn't what you want, either change it or change what you want.
I may be missing something but that's what it seems to be saying, couched in gobbly language like "Eomotional Logical Operators or ELOs".
I don't feel disloyal in telling you all. If it had been a dramatic, ground-breaking work I might have. Besides this stuff is not new is it? It must go back to the dawn of time. It's certainly in "The Human Givens", which is pretty neolithic"
Iansf
....actually that statement "if the life you have isn't what you want, either change it or change what you want." sounds very useful - rather like some of Dale Carnegie's points..

Here's something else for FREE:

" What’s depressed person's posture like? It's not hard to visualize a person who is depressed. Depressed people often walk around with their eyes down. (They're accessing in a kinesthetic mode and/or talking to themselves about all the things that make them feel depressed.) They drop their shoulders. They take weak, shallow breaths. They do all the things that put their body in a depressed physiology. Are they deciding to be depressed? They sure are. Depression is a result, and it requires very specific body images to create it.

How come you know these things without seeing him? Because you practiced this before haven’t you? We all have experienced it. Now if you do these to your body, you are gonna feel lousy, you are gonna feel depressed. Now if you change the way you use your body, your shoulders are back, you breathe if you use your voice different way, if you move your body with a different tempo.

It’s hard to feel depressed in that way. In fact there’s a research studied at the University of California, Berkeley, they tried something different without drugs. They did something sound so stupid. Here’s what they did. They came up with a simple approach that they took people that are clinically depressed, that means they have reached high level of depression. It’s like they get a certification saying that they are clinically depressed. They are achievers at the depression level. That means they practice the pattern of "being depressed" on a regular basis. They had these ‘patients’ come of 4 weeks, stand in front of a mirror and do one silly thing. They ask them to grin from ear to ear and they had made them smile for no good reason for 20 minutes 7 days a week. Now when they are doing it, they grin so big that they created a wrinkle on their side of the eyes. You know those sets of lines that when you smile so big? Interestingly, they kick their shoulders back while they are doing it and breathe fully. They go, “Dump idea!” But what happen is not a single person was able to remain depressed. What most interesting is, at the end of the 20 days, many of them had no need for medications and that’s all they change."

Thankyou Nelson Tan ( he derived this from Tony Robbins)..

5-HTP and depression

Depression: Drug-Free Ways To Alleviate Depression By Boosting Levels Of The “Feel-Good” hormone - seritonin:

Often when people complain about “feeling depressed”, it means they’ve had a bad day or are feeling temporarily down. However, as a medical condition, depression is quite different.

It can leave you feeling constantly sad and empty, pessimistic about the future, unable to enjoy things that once gave you pleasure, tearful and unable to cope. It can also disturb your sleep patterns and cause marked changes in your appetite. All of these symptoms can soon fill you with despair and paralyse your ability to get on with life.

Apart from being triggered by a bereavement, redundancy or illness, the cause of depression is still unclear. One of the most probable scientific explanations is a deficiency of neurotransmitters in the brain, particularly of the “feel-good” hormone serotonin.

Normally, optimal amounts of serotonin flood your brain’s tissues and synapses (cell connections), which helps regulate your moods, feelings of well-being and many emotional responses. So, it follows that if your body produces too little you can soon start to feel low, which can eventually progress to full-blown clinical depression if left unchecked.

You should see your doctor immediately if you are severely depressed or experiencing suicidal thoughts, as you could benefit from medication. For sufferers with mild to moderate depression, natural approaches may offer a better choice to help overcome the problem, as anti-depressants can cause serious side effects.

For example, commonly prescribed SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), such as Prozac, can cause stomach upsets, indigestion, skin allergies, headaches and anxiety. More disturbingly, they’ve even been linked to increased suicidal tendencies in some people, especially among children and adolescents. To date there have been 90 legal actions brought against the pharmaceutical companies which manufacture antidepressants.


5-HTP, a mood-elevating natural supplement, can help lift you out of depression
While this remedy can help keep depression at bay, it’s important that you consult your doctor before taking as it can have side effects if mixed with other antidepressants or medication.

Numerous clinical trials have studied the efficacy of 5-HTP for treating depression. One compared it to the antidepressant drug fluvoxamine and found 5-HTP to be equally effective (Psychopathology 1991; 24:53-81). Scientists also examined research from around the world on the use of 5-HTP in treating depression and found that: “Of the 17 reviewed studies, 13 confirm that 5-HTP has true antidepressant properties” (Neuropsychobiology 1988; 20: 28-35).


The recommended dosage for 5-HTP is 50mg to 100mg taken three times a day.

Depression - the ultimate unwanted guest

I dont know if this would work for you to help cure depression, but it could be worth a try - it doesnt cost anything (or help the drug companies!):

from paul mason:


"Depression appears to be the ultimate unwanted guest. Interestingly, it only seems to go where it can stay unobserved.

So try this..
witness the sensation of depression as it arrives. Announce (within yourself) that you are an unwilling host to depression. Be observant, witness the depression until the time it goes, witness its going (& celebrate).

Keep doing this whenever depression reoccurs.


I tried this method about thirty years ago. First of all I noticed the periods of depression would last for days at a time, then I began to notice the periods would sometimes be a bit less. Sometimes more and sometimes less, but before too long the periods of depression were no longer lasting days. It was now about counting hours. The hours suffering the visitation of depression were long, far too long. But I kept vigilant, kept watching. Before long it had become a matter of monitoring minutes of depression, until the time measured became much much less as there were just the occasional splashes of grey emptiness. Eventually depression didn't visit at all and it has remained that way.

I hope this is of help to you".

Exercise on par with drugs for aiding depression

feeling depressed? check this out - and the other articles on exercise on this blog!

by Amy Norton

Reuters
22 September 2007

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Regular exercise may work as well as
medication in improving symptoms of major depression, researchers
have found.

In a study of 202 depressed adults, investigators found that those
who went through group-based exercise therapy did as well as those
treated with an antidepressant drug. A third group that performed
home-based exercise also improved, though to a lesser degree.

Importantly, the researchers found, all three groups did better than
a fourth group given a placebo—an inactive pill identical to the
antidepressant.

While past studies have suggested that exercise can ease depression
symptoms, a criticism has been that the research failed to compare
exercise with a placebo. This leaves a question as to whether the
therapy, per se, was responsible for the benefit.

The new findings bolster evidence that exercise does have a real
effect on depression, according to the researchers.

Doctors may not start widely prescribing exercise as a depression
treatment just yet. But for patients who are motivated to try
exercise, it could be a reasonable option, the study authors say.

'If exercise were a drug, I'm not sure that it would receive FDA
approval at this time,' noted study author Dr. James A. Blumenthal, a
professor of medical psychology at Duke University Medical Center in
Durham, North Carolina.

'But,' he told Reuters Health, 'there is certainly growing evidence
that exercise may be a viable alternative to medication, at least
among those patients who are receptive to exercise as a potential
treatment for their depression.'

The study, published in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine, included
202 men and women age 40 and older who were diagnosed with major
depression. They were randomly assigned to one of four groups: one
that worked out in a supervised, group setting three times per week;
one that exercised at home; one that took the antidepressant
sertraline (Zoloft); and one that took placebo pills.

After 16 weeks, the patients completed standard measures of
depression symptoms.

By the end of the study, Blumenthal's team found, 47 percent of
patients on the antidepressant no longer met the criteria for major
depression. The same was true of 45 percent of those in the
supervised exercise group.

In the home-based exercise group, 40 percent had their symptoms go
into remission. That compared with 31 percent of the placebo group.

There are several theories on why exercise might improve depression.
For example, physical activity seems to affect some key nervous
system chemicals—norepinephrine and serotonin—that are targets of
antidepressant drugs, as well as brain neurotrophins, which help
protect nerve cells from injury and transmit signals in brain regions
related to mood.

Exercise may also boost people's feelings of self-efficacy and
promote positive thinking. Some experts speculate that group
exercise, with its social aspect, may have added benefits.

Though the home exercise group in this study did better than the
placebo group, it's not clear whether it's as good as supervised
classes, according to Blumenthal. 'Home exercise may be more
convenient,' he noted, 'but patients not push themselves as hard on
their own.'

He added that supervised exercise may also be safer for some people,
such as those with heart disease.

SOURCE: Psychosomatic Medicine, September 2007.

LIGHT THERAPY – COULD THIS CURE YOUR DEPRESSION?

Seasonal Affective Disorder and Light Therapy

What is seasonal affective disorder?
Seasonal affective disorder is a major (serious) form of depression that occurs at the same time each year. Researchers have identified two types of SAD. The most common type, known as "winter depression," usually begins in the late fall to early winter months and ends in spring. Seasonal affective disorder can also occur in the summer (known as "summer depression").

Surveys estimate that 4 to 6 percent of the general population experience SAD. Women with SAD outnumber men four to one. The disorder usually begins in person's early twenties and the risk for developing SAD decreases with age (Saeed and Bruce).

What are the symptoms of seasonal affective disorder?
People who suffer from SAD can have the common symptoms of depression such as sadness, anxiety, lost of interest in usual activities, withdrawal from social activities, and an inability to concentrate. Symptoms most common to winter depression include:
• Increased sleep
• Increased appetite
• Weight gain
• Irritability
• Interpersonal difficulties (especially feelings of rejection)
• A heavy leaden feeling in the arms and legs

How is seasonal affective disorder diagnosed?
Physicians can diagnose SAD based on criteria (a set of standards) developed by the American Psychiatric Association. Your physician can determine if you are suffering from depression and if this depression is a seasonal affective disorder. Tables 1 and 2 below list the criteria used for diagnosing a depressive episode and SAD.

What causes SAD?
The exact cause of SAD is unknown, but researchers suspect changes in the availability of sunlight plays an important role. Statistics show that winter depression becomes increasingly more common the farther people live north or south of the equator. Episodes of winter depression also tend to be longer and more severe at higher latitudes (Saeed and Bruce).

How is seasonal affective disorder different from the "holiday blues?"
Many people use the expression "holiday blues" to refer to a sadness or depression occurring during winter or the holiday season. This term should be differentiated from SAD. The holiday blues are related to psychosocial factors such as increased family obligations, isolation, decreased exercise, expectations that one "should" feel good, or association of the holidays with early memories and possible unresolved childhood conflicts.

In contrast, SAD is a subtype of a major depressive disorder (or bipolar disorder) with seasonal patterns and appears to be more biological in origin. (Rosenthal).

How is winter depression treated?
Research now shows that light therapy, or exposure to light, is an effective treatment for winter depression. Light therapy is administered by a 10,000-lux light box, which contains white fluorescent light tubes covered with a plastic screen that blocks ultraviolet rays. Full-spectrum light is not necessary (Saeed and Bruce).

The patient sits in front of the box with his or her eyes open, but should not look directly into the light. The therapy begins with daily sessions of 10 to 15 minutes, which are gradually increased to 30 to 45 minute sessions. Ninety minutes of exposure per day is often prescribed. The therapy typically continues until spring.

www.clevelandclinic.org

St. John's Wort Helpful in Beating Depression

A recent study looked at 324 people with mild to moderate depression. Some were given twice daily doses of 75 mg imipramine (an established antidepressant). Others took 250 mg hypericum (St. John's Wort) twice daily for six weeks. Both groups reported that their depression was reduced. However, St. John's Wort was slightly more effective at reducing anxiety. Participants also found it easier to take. Only 3 percent withdrew from the study because of side effects compared with 16 percent taking imipramine. British Medical Journal September 2nd 2000;321:536-539

5-HTP for depression

Insufficient activity of the key neurotransmitters serotonin and
norepinephrine is now recognised as a major part of the aetiology of
depression; nearly all drugs used to treat depression enhance these
neurotransmitter systems. Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers sent
between neuronal cells, they have a profound effect on how we feel.

Serotonin
Serotonin is known as the “feel good” neurotransmitter; it is
synthesised from the amino acid tryptophan, which is converted to
serotonin’s immediate precursor 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP).  Serotonin
regulates mood and modulates pain perception, it is used to synthesise
melatonin which regulates the sleep/wake cycle; thus serotonin is
associated with a sense of well-being. The amount of the biochemical
precursors in the brain influences the rate of serotonin synthesis.

5-HTP
During the 1970s and 1980s a lot of research was conducted into the
efficacy of using tryptophan and 5-HTP as a treatment for depression.
Tryptophan is found in especially high levels in poultry, tuna, eggs,
cheese, milk and tofu. Serotonin production can be increased two-fold by
consuming tryptophan; however the transport of tryptophan to the central
nervous system and it’s final conversion to serotonin can be compromised
by factors such as vitamin B-6 deficiency and cortisol excess.

Supplementing with 5-HTP bypasses the conversion of tryptophan to 5-HTP;
in addition 5-HTP crosses the blood-brain barrier and does not need to
be transported. 

The studies
One of the pilot studies, a placebo- controlled trail using 200mg of
5-HTP, found that depressive symptoms reduced in 60% of patients in the
active treatment group while no change was observed in the placebo
group.  Further studies by the same research group produced similar
results, for example, one study with four groups of ten patients found
that 200mg of 5-HTP was not only more effective than placebo but almost
as effective as clomipramine (a tricyclic antidepressant, this group of
medications is associated with a range of devastating side effects).

A 1991 Swiss study divided 36 patients into two groups, one receiving
5-HTP (300mg daily), the other receiving fluvoxamine (an SSRI
anti-depressant); after six weeks both groups had an equal number of
patients showing a 50% improvement. Several other studies have shown
similar results suggesting the efficacy of 5-HTP.

A recent systematic review concluded “available evidence does suggest
these substances are better than placebo at alleviating depression.
Further studies are needed.”
The future
Conventional anti-depressant medication is widely acknowledged to be
associated with a number of severe potential side effects. Raising
physiological levels of neurotransmitters by natural means looks
promising to offer safe symptomatic relief to depressed patients.

It is important to recognise that depression is a multi-factorial
condition and all aspects, including nutritional deficiencies and
psycho-social factors, must be addressed as part of a treatment
strategy.


Notes
Tryptophan is not obtainable for general sale in the UK following deaths
among it’s users in 1989 from eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome. The deaths
were the result of one particular batch only and tryptophan is now
freely available in many countries.

magnesium and zinc - are you getting enough?

interesting website on the role of magnesium and zinc, etc. in the treatment and prevention of
common cold, dysmenorrhea, menstruel cramps, cardiac arrhythmas, depression, angina pectoris, asthma, leukemia, allergy, herpes, etc.

http://george-eby-research.com/

depression and magnesium

good article on magnesium supplementation curing depression:(follow link on the left of the page)

http://george-eby-research.com

Are You Magnesium Deficient?

According to Bette L. Hall CMA, NHC :

Over 300 biochemical reactions in the body depend on magnesium and it is known for its healing effects. Deficiencies in magnesium leave people vulnerable to developing acute and chronic conditions due to not getting the minerals needed from their daily food intake.

Magnesium is a crucial nutrient when it comes to proper body functioning. Magnesium ions play a major role in cellular function and strongly influence cardiovascular and neuromuscular excitability.

How do you know if your body is deprived of this valuable nutrient? These signs can be indicators of magnesium deficiency:
Cardiac Arrhthmias: Irregular heart beat, palpitations.
Leg Cramps and foot cramps that are especially bothersome at night.
Tremors: Tremors usually involve the hands, but can sometimes the head, face, voice, and legs.
Anxiety
Muscle Weakness: Lack of strength
Chronic Fatigue: Overwhelming exhaustion both mentally and physically.
Depression: Sadness, fear, hopelessness.

In a clinical trial involving thirty-two (32) patients with chronic fatigue syndrome, fifteen (15) were given magnesium and seventeen (17) were given water. Twelve (12) of the (15) patients who received the magnesium saw improvement in their energy levels, sleep patterns, and physical mobility.

This metallic element is not readily available in foods, therefore magnesium supplementation could help prevent high blood pressure and the other indicators listed above.

Magnesium supplementation can help people avoid serious disease or recover from ones they already have. There are many reasons, scientific studies, and professional medical and scientific data that sustain this statement.

A study documented in the International Journal of Cardiology in 1996 found that taking 600 mg of magnesium daily lowered the systolic blood pressure by almost 8 points and the diastolic pressure by almost 4 points.

It is difficult to get enough magnesium from the diet. In 1900 the average American diet consisted of approximately 450 mg of magnesium per day. By the year 2000, that figure dropped to about 200 mg of magnesium each day.


Featured Editorial from Life Extension Magazine, Sept. 2005:
How Many Americans Are Magnesium Deficient?

Complete Book by
Dr. Mildred S. Seelig:
Magnesium Deficiency in the Pathogenesis
of Disease

The legal battle for recognition of the importance of dietary magnesium:
Legal documents

Healthy Water Association
HWA Button Healthy Water Association--USA
AHWA Button Arab Healthy Water Associatio


Four recent magazine articles on the subject of magnesium
•72% of Americans are magnesium-deficient. (heart disease, diabetes, leg cramps)
•Magnesium boosts energy, benefits athletes. (athletes, chronic fatigue syndrome)
•Magnesium, B vitamins benefit CFS patients. (chronic fatigue syndrome)
•Magnesium can help with energy, depression. (depression, schizophrenia, psychiatric disorders)
72% of Americans are magnesium-deficient.

v57, Better Nutrition for Today's Living, March '95, p34.

A recent survey conducted by The Gallup Organization has found that 72 percent of adult Americans are falling short of the Recommended Dietary Allowance for magnesium.

The survey further revealed that 55 percent of all adults are consuming three-quarters or less of the RDA, while 30 percent are eating less than half the required amount of the mineral.

The survey also reported that magnesium consumption decreases as we age, with 79 percent of adults 55 and over reportedly eating below the RDA for magnesium, and 66 percent are getting less than three-quarters of their allowamce from food.

Food sources of magnesium include wheat germ, wheat bran, brewer's yeast, nuts, peanuts, soybeans, whole-grain oats and barley, millet, corn and beet greens.

For males 19 and over, the RDA for magnesium is 350 mg/day. For females 19 and over, RDA is 280 mg/day. The RDA for pregnant women is 320 mg/day; and for breast-feeding women, 355 mg/day for the first six months and 360 mg/day for the second six months.

"A potential magnesium deficiency is a matter of concern for many individuals of all ages, but for the elderly, it could be particularly serious," said Richard Rivlin, M.D., program director of the Clinical Nutrition Research Unit at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York, and chief of the Nutrition Division at New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center.

"The prevalence of heart disease, diabetes and even leg cramps increases dramatically among older persons, and these are all health conditions in which magnesium deficiency has been found," Rivlin observed.

He added that, "The Gallup Survey showed a high general awareness of the importance of nutrients such as vitamin C and calcium. But it is clear that consumers are largely unaware of the role of magnesium - a nutrient that is essential for the function of other minerals like calcium, as well as the normal operation of the heart and muscles."

A separate Gallup survey of 500 adults with diabetes reported that 83 percent of those with diabetes are consuming insufficient magnesium from food, with many by significant margins. Sixty-eight percent of the men and 56 percent of the non-pregnant women said they were consuming threequarters or less of their RDA for the mineral. "This is a concern," said Susan Thom, a registered dietitian, "Since research has shown a strong association between magnesium and the body's ability to use insulin properly."

Insulin is a hormone required to convert glucose (sugar) into energy. But for diabetics, the body either does not manufacture sufficient amounts of the hormone or is unable to process it.

"In fact," Thom continued, "a consensus panel convened by the American Diabetes Association has recommended that all persons with diabetes who are at high risk for high blood pressure be tested and, if a problem is found, treated with a magnesium chloride supplement."

In spite of this recommendation, Thom added, only five percent of the diabetics polled were aware that magnesium deficiency is prevalent among diabetics.

And 99 percent - of whom more than half (53 percent) have a history of heart disease and/or are taking diuretics (water pills to induce urination) - said they had not been advised by a health care professional about a possible magnesium deficiency.

A magnesium deficiency in diabetics may result in an increased risk for cardiac arrhythmias, high blood pressure, myocardial infarction (heart attack) and altered glucose metabolism, according to Robert K. Rude, M.D., of the Southern California School of Medicine in Los Angeles, in the October 1992 issue of Postgraduate Medicine.

He added that a magnesium deficiency is associated with low blood levels of calcium and potassium.

Gastrointestinal loss and renal (kidney) wasting are other considerations warranting oral magnesium supplements, he said.

An initial dose may range from 300 mg/day to 600 mg/day with medical supervision. Divided doses are suggested to avoid possible diarrhea. And, he said, the mineral should be used cautiously by patients with impaired kidney function.

REFERENCES

Landy, Liz. "Gallup Survey Finds Majority of American Diets Lack Sufficient Magnesium - At Potential Cost to Health," Searle News, Sept. 21, 1994
. Rude, Robert K., M.D. "Magnesium Deficiency and Diabetes Mellitus: Causes and Effects." Postgraduate Medicine 92(5):217-223, October 1992.
Magnesium boosts energy, benefits athletes.

il v57, Better Nutrition for Today's Living, July 1995, p28(1).

Gabe Mirkin, M.D., a nutrition expert and runner, and coauthor of the Sportsmedicine Book, reported that exercisers who feel weak and tired may be suffering from "the mineral blues," which is characterized as a deficiency of potassium and magnesium inside muscle cells, according to The Complete Book of Vitamins and Minerals for Health.

"A loss of magnesium through sweat can bring fatigue and muscle cramps because of the role the mineral plays in controlling muscle contraction and regulating the conversion of carbohydrates to energy," the publication stated.

In foods, potassium and magnesium can be found in nuts, soybeans, whole grains, fruits and vegetables.

Athletes, body builders, runners and those who perform strenuous exercise or physical work are advised to make sure their cellular magnesium levels are up to par, reported Eberhard Kronhausen, Ed.D., et al., in Formula for Life: The Antioxidant, Free-Radical Detoxification Program.

"Magnesium is responsible--together with calcium--for the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), our most important high-energy phosphate compound," the authors added. "In addition, good magnesium levels are needed for optimal muscle contraction and to sustain the high oxygen consumption necessary for athletic performance. Research indicates that magnesium facilitates oxygen delivery to working muscle tissue..."

In addition to its contribution to multiple enzyme systems, including ATP metabolism in the production of energy, magnesium plays a role in protecting us against ischemic heart disease, myocardial infarction, cardiac arrhythmias, high blood pressure, asthma, preeclampsia and alcohol withdrawal, according to Robert M. McLean, M.D., of the Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Conn., in the January 1994 issue of The American Journal of Medicine.

He went on to say that the amount of magnesium in the blood does not necessarily correlate with the amount of the mineral stored in the body, making a magnesium deficiency difficult to pinpoint. Low magnesium levels are rather common problems found in about 65 percent of intensive care patients and about 11 percent of the general patient population, he said.

Magnesium levels can be depleted by such drugs as amphotericin B, cyclosporine, cisplatin, digojcin, ethanol, gentamicin, loop diuretics and pentamidine, he added.

A combination of magnesium and malic acid (extracted from apples and other foods) has been useful in treating some patients with chronic fatigue syndrome, reported the Spring 1993 issue of Health Watch, a publication of the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Research Foundation in Santa Barbara, Calif.

Daniel Peterson, M.D., said that the combination of the mineral and malic acid benefits up to 40 percent of the patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. Malic acid should be included in the therapy for these patients, added Jay Goldstein, M.D.

The researchers indicate that fibromyalgia (associated with muscle and bone aches, pins-and-needles feelings, fatigue, tension headaches, insomnia, etc.) may not respond to the magnesium-malic supplement for 48 hours. For chronic fatigue syndrome, this therapy may take two weeks, they said.

In addition to contributing to ATP production, malic acid is important in the Krebs cycle, in which fats and sugar are converted into energy, the researchers continued.

The therapeutic dose that they recommend for patients is six to 12 tablets/day of malic acid and magnesium hydroxide. The supplement is to be taken with food and water.

"Those who exercise strenuously need magnesium because it helps deliver oxygen to the muscles for peak performance," according to Rita Aero and Stephanie Rick in Vitamin Power.

Magnesium is vital for converting glycogen into glucose for use as the body's fuel."

Health food stores carry a variety of magnesium supplements, and some stores may have the magnesium malate supplement.

REFERENCES

Aero, Rita, and Rick, Stephanie. Vitamin Power. New York: Harmony Books, 1987, p. 159.

"A Follow-up on Malic Acid: CFIDS Buyers Club," Health Watch 3(1):1,3, Spring 1993.

The Complete Book of Vitamins and Minerals for Health, Emmaus, Pa.: Rodale Pres, 1988, p. 450.

Kronhausen, Eberhard, Ed.D., et al. Formula for Life: The Antioxidant, Free-Radical, Detoxification Program. New York: William Morrow Co., Inc., 1989, p. 168.

McLean, Robert M., M.D. "Magnesium and Its Therapeutic Uses: A Review", The American Journal of Medcine 96:63-76, January 1994.
Magnesium, B vitamins benefit CFS patients.

(chronic fatigue syndrome) v56, Better Nutrition for Today's Living, Nov 1994, p18(1).

Magnesium may be the most critical single supplement affecting patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), since known intracellular magnesium deficiencies exist in patients with this disorder, according to Paul R. Cheney, M.D., PhD., and Charles W. Lapp, M.D., in the Winter 1994 issue of Health Watch, a publication of the CFS Research Foundation in Santa Barbara, Calif.

The authors, whose article originally appeared in the Fall 1993 issue of the CFIDS Chronicle/Cheney Clinic, Charlotte, N.C., added that such deficiencies would disrupt adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthesis. (ATP can best be described as the energy that moves muscle contraction, heart beat, etc.)

Since ATP drives the membrane pumps which transport magnesium into the cell, a vicious cycle could arise in which low ATP levels give rise to even lower intracellular magnesium, causing still further ATP reduction, the authors continued.

This might happen, they added, with CFS patients who "crash," even though they essentially have normal blood levels of magnesium. Since solid forms of magnesium may be excreted by the kidneys of CFS patients without correcting the intracellular magnesium deficiency, the researchers opt for magnesium injections.

As additional supplements for CFS patients, the researchers recommend vitamin B12, high doses of the antioxidants (vitamins C and E and beta carotene) and COQ10.

"People with chronic fatigue syndrome usually feel better when they supplement their diets with magnesium," reported James B. Pierce, Ph.D., in his book, Heart Healthy Magnesium. "People with Graves disease...tend to have magnesium deficiencies, too. If you live or work in a stressful environment, or are over 59 years old, you are also a candidate for magnesium deficiency."

In her book, Complementary Natural Prescriptions for Common Ailments, Carolyn Dean, M.D., offers these suggestions for CFS patients: eat plenty of vegetables, engage in routine, gentle exercise, get plenty of rest and take various natural supplements such as the B vitamins, magnesium, vitamin C and a multiple vitamin, along with evening primrose oil, cod liver oil or fish oils.


magnesium in diet:
What is the best way to get extra magnesium?
Eating a variety of whole grains, legumes, and vegetables (especially dark-green, leafy vegetables) every day will help provide recommended intakes of magnesium and maintain normal storage levels of this mineral.



Do not despair. CFS is not a lifelong malady.
Magnesium can help with energy, depression.


Because of the close alignment of nature, all living creatures depend on magnesium to maintain the health and functioning of their component cells, explained James B. Pierce, Ph.d., in Heart Healthy Magnesium. In the mitochrondria of the cells--the sites where glucose is oxidized-magnesium is chemically coupled with adenosine triphosphate (ATP). This, he added, positions magnesium as a catalytic agent at the seat of energy generation.


"Of course," Pierce continued, "since energy is released to the cell when ATP converts to ADP, the reverse reaction--restoration of ATP from ADP--requires the input of energy. The source of that energy is the oxidation of glucose through a complex series of biochemical reactions."

This conversion of ATP to ADP, he continued, and of ADP back into ATP, is the basic process that supplies the cells with the energy they need to perform all of their appointed functions, and it cannot take place without magnesium. This process, he added, which produces muscular energy, is essential in the operation of our hearts and vascular systems.

A magnesium deficiency may result in impaired neurotransmitter functions, which may be part of the pathophysiology of schizophrenia, according to J. Daniel Kanofsky, M.D., MPH, in the International Journal of Neuroscience in 1991. Magnesium-deficient patients may experience depression, agitation, confusion and disorientation, he said.

He went on to say that psychotic behavior, including auditory and visual hallucinations, has been reported in 50 percent of the subjects with low magnesium levels in their blood. In drug-treated schizophrenic patients, he added, magnesium levels have been found to be consistently lower after neuroleptic medications.

Blood levels of magnesium were evaluated in 20 chronic institutionalized schizophrenic patinets getting neuroleptic drugs, and 30 percent were also being given lithium carbonate. Of the 20 patients, five had low blood levels of magnesium. Two patients receiving lithium carbonate also had low blood levels of magnesium.

Clinical symptoms of low magnesium levels affect the central nervous system, cardiovascular system and cardiac system, resulting in depression, seizures, psychosis, weakness, muscle tremors, arrhythmias, etc., according to Joseph R. Dipalma, M.D., in the Jully 1990 issue of AFP Journal. Duretics, antibiotics, cancer chemotherapy and immunosuppressive agents also increase the risk of a magnesium deficiency, he said.

Arrhythmias have been treated with magnesium supplementation, Dipalma said. Some clinicians recommend all patients on thiazide diuretics be candidates for magnesium supplementation. He added that oral magnesium therapy is generally safe and may be an underutilized mode of therapy. Recommended amounts of magnesium range from 350 to 450 mg/day, with grains and nuts being good food sources of the mineral.

With food processing, 75 percent of the magnesium is lost, suggesting that the American diet provides only 40 percent of the recommended daily allowance for the mineral, reported Sherry Rogers, M.D., in International Medicine World Report in 1992. It is estimated that 80 percent of the population is deficient in magnesium, Rogers added.

Magnesium therapy could benefit cardiac arrest patients, as well as those with myocardial infarction, resulting in shorter hospital stays, Rogers added. Other symptoms releated to magnesium deficiency, Rogers continued, include transient ischemic attack, organic brain syndrome, Alzheimer's disease, intestinal spasms, migraines, asthma, chronic fatigue, depression, premenstrual syndrome, spasm of the fallopian tubes and infertility.

Rogers went on to say that magnesium deficiency is prevalent in psychiatric disorders such as anxiety, agitation and panic attacks. Unfortunately, many of the disorders are related to an unbalanced diet, since 25 to 75 percent of the typical American diet is form processed foods, Rogers added.

Since magnesium is involved with over 300 enzymes in the body, it is easy to see why this mineral is so important.


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