Magnesium
Magnesium is required for many processes in the body, including glutathione production, our most potent detoxifier.
It’s a “cofactor in more than 300 enzyme systems that regulate diverse biochemical reactions in the body, including protein synthesis, muscle and nerve function, blood glucose control, and blood pressure regulation.”1
When patients are low in magnesium, they often experience headaches or migraines, depression, PMS symptoms, anxiety, fatigue, muscle twitching, high blood pressure and asthma.2 Things like alcohol consumption, antibiotics and other prescription medications, intestinal permeability (‘leaky gut’), diarrhea and chronic stress can be the root cause behind low magnesium, or it can simply be attributed to a low absorption rate for even the most magnesium-rich food sources.
At Vine Healthcare, we use these forms of magnesium in the Support phase of our Fully Functional® protocol:
Magnesium Citrate.
A common, cost-effective oral form. In addition to providing magnesium support, this form can loosen stools, which is a side-effect that can be flipped to be beneficial, if patients are experiencing constipation.
Magnesium Glycinate.
This oral format of magnesium is one of the most popular because it is assimilated well into the body without having a laxative effect.
Magnesium Threonate.
This form is great for brain support. Dr. Perlmutter, who specializes in functional neurology, appreciates this form because it “has the unique ability to permeate the brain and enhance the receptors” that are involved in synapse formation in the brain.3 Our magnesium threonate supplement includes MagteinTM, which was developed at MIT and “leads to enhanced learning abilities, improved working memory, and better short- and long-term memory in both young and aged animals.”4 It comes in a powdered form that we often recommend patients taking before bed.
Transdermal Magnesium Chloride Oil.
Last but definitely not least, we recommend topical magnesium because it can be absorbed through the skin, and bypasses the digestive system, which can be compromised in many of the patients we see. Magnesium Chloride is also highly absorbed into the body compared to many of the forms of magnesium.5 Transdermal formats include spray and bath flakes which we carry in our office at Vine Healthcare. It should be noted that some patients share that this form causes itching (especially if more deficient) that should subside after further application. The abdomen and legs are great application areas.
If you’d like to purchase any of these supplements, please visit our store or reach out to our office via email at [email protected] or call 317.989.8463.
References
- https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Magnesium-HealthProfessional/
- http://www.kumc.edu/school-of-medicine/integrative-medicine/the-benefits-of-magnesium.html
- https://www.drperlmutter.com/magnesium-threonate-powers-brain/
- http://magtein.com/about.html
- http://www.ancient-minerals.com/magnesium-chloride/
- Institute of Medicine (IOM). Food and Nutrition Board. Dietary Reference Intakes: Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Vitamin D and Fluoride. Washington, DC: National Academy Press, 1997.
- Rude RK. Magnesium. In: Coates PM, Betz JM, Blackman MR, Cragg GM, Levine M, Moss J, White JD, eds. Encyclopedia of Dietary Supplements. 2nd ed. New York, NY: Informa Healthcare; 2010:527-37.