Magnesium for fibromyalgia -
One article on the web goes so far as to say that that almost everyone is the United States is at least marginally deficient in magnesium. So there is an excellent chance that a person with fibromyalgia has a magnesium deficiency.
But since people with fibromyalgia often have high levels of stress, and a disrupted hormonal system, they are more likely to be candidates for magnesium deficiency. Magnesium utilization is also increased by the presence of estrogen, and this might explain why many women are diagnosed with fibromyalgia after menopause, when estrogen levels would decrease.
Additionally, the sleep disruption which occurs in fibromyalgia might also affect magnesium utilization, as sleep deprivation has been shown to cause lower magnesium levels.
The reason lack of sleep causes a magnesium deficiency is probably due to the lower amounts of growth hormone secretion which occurs due to a sleep disturbance, especially the type that is found in people with fibromyalgia.
Growth hormone is responsible for creating a substance known as IGF-1, or insulin growth factor. IGF-1 has been found to have many uses by the body. It's especially known for tissue repair. However, it can influence intracellular levels of magnesium, as the following studies show:.
Also, IGF-1 affects excretion of magnesium by the kidneys:. Magnesium deficiency is therefore one of many problems in people with fibromyalgia which is due to or influenced by the sleep disturbance.
So while it's possible to attain some benefit from taking magnesium, treating any sleep disorder is just as helpful, if not more so. Magnesium is extremely important to many functions in the body, which is why a deficiency can cause many different symptoms.
It is most widely known for being needed for proper bone formation. With a deficiency, bones will be soft, and it can play a role in osteoporosis However, magnesium is also the activating mineral for at least different enzymes in the body, more than any other mineral, so it is crucial for many of the metabolic functions in the body.
Magnesium is necessary for almost all the enzymes that allow the glycolytic and Krebs cycles to turn the sugar and fat we eat into ATP. Low levels of ATP have commonly been found in people with fibromyalgia, and it is believed that this plays an important role in many of the fibromyalgia symptoms.
Thus, a magnesium deficiency would definitely be a factor in worsening those symptoms. Magnesium is extremely necessary for proper ATP synthesis, because ATP is stored in the body as a combination of magnesium and ATP, which is known as MgATP. ATP requires magnesium in order to be stable.
Without magnesium, ATP would easily break down into other components, ADP and inorganic phosphate. The brain heavily relies ATP for many functions. Thus, low levels of ATP can diminish brain cognitive functions, a common problem in people with fibromyalgia. Adequate magnesium is necessary for proper muscle functioning.
Magnesium deficiency promotes excessive muscle tension, leading to muscle spasms, tics, restlessness, and twitches. This is due to an imbalance of the ratio of calcium to magnesium, as calcium controls contraction, while magnesium controls relaxation.
Plus, in fibromyalgia, changes are seen in the muscles, such as "significantly lower than normal phosphocreatine and ATP levels" and "values for phosphorylation potential also were significantly reduced":. But all of these same changes are found also in magnesium deficiencies:.
Magnesium may also help Myofascial Pain Syndrome. According to Devin Starlanyl's web page "Myofascial trigger points can be identified and documented electrophysiologically by characteristic spontaneous electrical activity SEA.
They may also be identified histologically which means that the structure of the cells have changed by contraction knots-- the lumps and bumps we know only too well. Both of these phenomenon seem to result from excessive release of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine ACh from the nerve terminal of the motor endplate the complex end formation of the nerve.
And in fact, intravenous magnesium sulfate is used in emergency situations because of this effect on acetylcholine :. Magnesium is known to regulate or inhibit many nerve receptors, such as NMDA or 5-HT3, which have been considered as sources of certain types of fibromyalgia pain. Neurontin, for example, is used because inhibits NMDA activity.
Since magnesium also blocks NMDA receptors, studies have used intravenous magnesium therapy to try and treat similar types of neuropathic pain:.
And it's because of magnesium's ability to regulate nerve functions that other fibromyalgia symptoms occur. Migraine headaches, mitral valve prolapse, and Raynaud's phenomenon, all problems commonly found in people with fibromyalgia, are also problems that have been associated with a magnesium deficiency.
Without enough magnesium, nerves fire too easily from even minor stimuli. Noises will sound excessively loud, lights will seem too bright, emotional reactions will be exaggerated, and the brain will be too stimulated to sleep, all symptoms commonly found in fibromyalgia.
And if the oversensitivity to light and noise reminds you of someone suffering from a hangover, they are one and the same problem, as alcohol is known for decreasing magnesium levels, and magnesium supplementation has been found to relieve hangover symptoms. Another commonly found condition in fibromyalgia which has nervous related symptoms is reactive hypoglycemia.
Anxiety related symptoms occur after carbohydrate intake, and this is believed to be due to either an excess release of adrenaline, or a higher sensitivity to adrenaline.
In either case, a deficiency of magnesium could be a factor, as magnesium deficiency appears to associated with anxiety and high levels of adrenaline. Not only that, but magnesium also affects carbohydrate metabolism in a different manner, as a magnesium deficiency appears to create resistance to insulin, Insulin resistance increases levels of insulin, which may result in a form of diabetes.
Additionally, insulin resistance by itself can distrupt intracellular magnesium levels, as the following web page explains. Magnesium also appears to be able to also affect the nervous system by regulating the release of hormones, which occurs due to many different forms of stress.
However, this hormonal activity is disrupted in fibromyalgia. Often there is an exaggerated release or high levels of noradrenaline also known as norepinephrine , as the following studies show:.
However, magnesium appears to play a role in regulating noradrenaline levels. For example, in the following study on mitral valve prolapse, magnesium supplementation not only relieved symptoms, but also reduced the high level of urinary noradrenaline excretion:.
And genetically bred mice with low magnesium levels have also been found to have high noradrenaline levels:. And ,as was previously mentioned, sleep deprivation appears to lower magnesium levels.
However, in another study, sleep deprivation was found to raise noradrenaline levels:. Thus, there appears to be a strong link between high noradrenaline levels, and low magnesium levels. And this imbalance of hormones could play a role in exercise tolerance in fibromyalgia.
High noradrenaline levels are associated with low exercise tolerance. This might be due to the fact that noradrenaline causes constriction in blood vessels, and this could reduce oxygen flow during exercise.
This is made worse by the lower than normal adrenaline levels in fibromyalgia, as adrenaline is able to dilate blood vessels in the skeletal muscles and the liver. However, magnesium is able to relax smooth muscles around blood vessels, and thus has a strong vasodilatory effect, which could counteract the vasoconstriction effect of the hormones.
Related to this is the previously mentioned study of patients that were sleep deprived which resulted in low magnesium levels. They were also found to have lower levels of exercise tolerance.
But in a subsequeent study, it was found that magnesium supplementation was able to raise that tolerance:. Respiratory problems such as asthma have also been associated with high levels of noradrenaline, and thus magnesium might be of help for those conditions.
A magnesium deficiency also increases levels of substance P, a chemical which has been implicated as being responsible for increased pain levells in FMS. Several studies, such as the following, show this:. However, even just as important is the fact that this study also shows a rise in inflammatory cytokines.
Cytokines are part of the immune system. However, raised levels of certain cytokines have been implicated in many health problems and diseases, and some researchers feel that they may be responsible for many of the symptoms of FMS and CFS, as these cytokines play a role in metabolic and many other functions.
Sleep deprivation studies also show an increase these cytokines, not surprising since we have shown that sleep deprivation can cause a magnesium deficiency.
The following study showed a significant increase in one of these cytokines, interleukin This cytokine appears to play a role in the fatigue and other health symptoms that directly result from lack of sleep:. Since a sleep disturbance could cause a rise in these cytokines, and since this study also postulates that these cytokines themselves play a role in regulating sleep, a spiraling effect could occur, as the high levels of these cytokines could cause sleep to be constantly disturbed Such a circular effect has been proposed for the cause of FMS.
Magnesium is thus involved in many functions in the body, and so it's no wonder that the chemical brain imbalances in fibromyalgia somehow seem connected to processes involving magnesium. Surprisingly, little is known about magnesium, as compared to other minerals in the body.
So it could be that magnesium even has more effects that we are not yet aware of. And it's because magnesium is involved in so many processes in the body, that a deficiency has a spiraling effect. Low magnesium levels causes metabolic functions to decrease, causing further stress on the body, reducing the body's ability to absorb and retain magnesium.
A marginal deficiency could easily be transformed into a more significant problem. Any stressful event could trigger magnesium loss. So one could postulate that stressful events which trigger fibromyalgia are doing so by creating a high loss of magnesium. Perhaps people in a fibromyalgia flare could be helped by additional magnesium.
Unfortunately, magnesium deficiency is not easily detected, as serum levels do not reflect the levels of magnesium in tissues. This is the reason why it is so overlooked and ignored, both by doctors and by studies. And unfortunately, oral magnesium supplementation can be difficult because of absorption problems.
Digestion and diet play a key role in absorption. People with fibromyalgia often have conditions like Irritable Bowel Syndrome, gluten intolerance, or other problems that might limit absorption. Excess amounts of certain substances, such as fructose, may interfere with magnesium absorption.
Phosphate can bind to magnesium in the gut, creating magnesium phosphate, an insoluble salt that can't be utilized. Increasing insulin sensitivity can help your body use this important hormone more efficiently to keep your blood sugar levels in check One large review of 18 studies showed that taking magnesium supplements reduced blood sugar levels in people with diabetes.
It also increased insulin sensitivity in people at risk of developing diabetes Hemoglobin A1c is a marker of long-term blood sugar control Magnesium plays a central role in muscle function, energy production, oxygen absorption, and electrolyte balance, all of which are important factors when it comes to exercise Several studies show that taking magnesium supplements could boost physical performance.
It enhanced the availability of energy for cells and helped clear out lactate from the muscles. Lactate can build up with exercise and contribute to muscle soreness A 4-week study in 25 volleyball players showed that taking mg of magnesium daily reduced lactate production and improved the performance of jumps and arm swings Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that causes muscle pain and tenderness throughout the body One study in 80 women found that blood levels of magnesium tended to be lower in those with fibromyalgia.
When the women took mg of magnesium citrate per day for 8 weeks, their symptoms and the number of tender points they experienced decreased significantly, compared with a control group Also, a 2-month study in 24 people with fibromyalgia found that taking 3—6 tablets, each containing 50 mg of magnesium and mg of malic acid, twice daily reduced pain and tenderness However, other research has produced conflicting results.
In fact, one recent review of 11 studies concluded that the use of magnesium and malic acid had little to no effect on symptoms of fibromyalgia Studies show that magnesium may help improve your mood, blood sugar control, and exercise performance. It may also reduce symptoms of fibromyalgia, though research results on this are mixed.
Doses over 5, mg per day have also been shown to cause toxicity, which can cause serious symptoms, including low blood pressure, facial flushing, muscle weakness, and heart problems Magnesium malate may also interfere with certain medications, including diuretics, antibiotics, and bisphosphonates, a type of medication used to prevent bone loss 5.
Magnesium malate may cause side effects like nausea, diarrhea, and stomach cramps. It can also be toxic in very high doses and may interfere with certain types of medications. The amount of magnesium you need each day varies by your age and gender.
The following table shows the recommended daily allowance RDA of magnesium for infants, children, and adults 5 :. Most people can meet their needs for magnesium by eating magnesium-rich foods , such as avocados, green leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes, and whole grains.
However, if you are unable to meet your needs due to dietary restrictions or certain health problems, taking magnesium malate may be beneficial. Most studies have found that doses of — mg of magnesium per day could be beneficial for health 8 , 13 , Most healthy adults need — mg of magnesium daily.
This can come from a combination of food and supplement sources. Studies show that magnesium in doses of — mg per day could benefit your health. It may be linked to several health benefits, including improvements in mood, blood sugar control, exercise performance, and chronic pain.
When used in combination with a healthy diet high in magnesium-rich foods, magnesium malate can help increase your intake of this important mineral and deliver several health benefits. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.
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Obesity prevention awareness is a condition characterized Magnesium for fibromyalgia widespread tenderness and fibromaylgia pain. The person become Beta-alanine and muscle fatigue delay fibromyalgua touch. The pain and tenderness tend to come and go. Fibromyalgia is most common in women. Symptoms include memory impairment, sleep difficulties, mood disturbance ,and fatigue. Some patients may have: 1. Magnesium is an important mineral for metabolic function. The good news Mqgnesium you is that we have found a one-two Mqgnesium treatment that reduces fibromalgia eliminates fibromyalgia pain. The use Flavonoids in herbal medicine magnesium for cor as a Garlic in herbal remedies gibromyalgia reliever fbiromyalgia Beta-alanine and muscle fatigue delay underestimated by the medical community. Magnesium is an essential mineral for many physiological functions see my earlier post on Magnificent Magnesiumbut it can help the pain in many ways. Magnesium has long been known to be a muscle relaxer. This is why Epsom Salt baths are a very old-fashioned remedy to relieve the aches and pains of hard, physical labor. And with good reason too — it works! The largest magnesium bath in the world is the Dead Sea in Israel.
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