Love you heart - feed it magnesium

Magnesium has been called ‘The Ultimate heart medicine’ because of the crucial role it plays in lowering blood pressure, fighting inflammation, preventing atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries), improving blood flow and correcting arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms). In fact, researchers believe this mineral can even prevent you dying from a heart attack (1,2)

Low magnesium = high risk

Numerous studies have shown a relationship between magnesium levels and developing or dying from cardiovascular disease (3,4,5,6,7,8). Researchers at the Northwestern University School of Medicine in the USA, found that low intake of this mineral increased coronary artery calcium levels (an indicator of atherosclerosis). Magnesium is useful for correcting arrhythmias (9,10,11,12,13,14) and lowering blood pressure (15) by relaxing the smooth muscles of the blood vessel walls.

“Heart palpitations, “flutters” or racing heart, otherwise called arrhythmias, usually clear up quite dramatically on 500 milligrams of magnesium once or twice daily or faster if given intravenously” - Dr. H. Ray Evers

Inflammation and your heart

Atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries) is caused by inflammation (16) and several articles have been written on the link between inflammatory gum diseases and heart attacks (17,18,19,20,21,22). Low magnesium levels increase inflammation and free radical production, and research has confirmed that this mineral has an anti-inflammatory effect (23,24,25).

“Inflammation contributes to the pro-atherogenic changes in
lipoprotein metabolism, endothelial dysfunction, thrombosis,
hypertension and explains the aggravating effect of magnesium
deficiency on the development of metabolic syndrome.”
Dr. Andrzej Mazura

Surgery lowers magnesium levels

Having cardiac surgery decreases magnesium levels in both adults and children (26,27,28,29,30,31,32) and supplementation of this mineral is recommended (33). In fact, Dr Minato from the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery in Japan, will not operate unless patients’ magnesium levels are corrected (34). This is because magnesium reduces the occurrence of abnormal heart rhythms (35,36,37), enhances brain function and memory (38), prevents clotting (39,40), decreases the need for painkillers (41) and improves blood flow post-operatively (42). In fact, patients without hypomagnesemia (low magnesium) are 28% less likely to die after cardiac surgery (43).

Increasing magnesium intake

Common risk factors for cardiovascular disease include smoking, drinking, diabetes and stress (44) – which, coincidently, also lower magnesium levels. Even if you do lead a healthy lifestyle, you may still be deficient in this crucial mineral. There is less magnesium in the food we eat and levels are further depleted by constant exposure to environmental toxins, caffeine, certain medicines, high protein diets and exercise. In fact, even fit and healthy athletes are at risk of ‘sudden death’ caused by ventricular fibrillation (a type of arrhythmia) (45,46). The easiest way to increase levels of this ‘heart tonic’ is to apply it directly to the skin. Transdermal magnesium is absorbed into the bloodstream and can even be applied to a heart-attack victim while awaiting the arrival of an ambulance.

References:

(1)Manz, M., et al. Behandlung von herzrhythmusstorungen mit magnesium. Deutsche Medi Wochenschrifte, Vol. 115, No. 10, March 9, 1990, pp. 386-90
(2) Iseri, Lloyd T., et al. Magnesium therapy of cardiac arrhythmias in critical-care medicine. Magnesium, Vol. 8, 1989, pp. 299-306
(3) (Harrison, Tinsley R. Principles of Internal Medicine. 1994, 13th edition, McGraw-Hill, pp. 1106-15 and pp. 2434-35)
(4)Comstock G: Water hardness and cardiovascular diseases. Am J Epidemiol 1979; 110:375-400
(5)Rubenowitz E, Axelsson G, Rylander R: Magnesium and calcium in drinking water and death from acute myocardial infarction in women. Epidemiology 1999; 10:31-36
(6)(Marx A, Neutra R: Magnesium in drinking water and ischemic heart disease. Epidemiol Rev 1997; 19:258-272)
(7) (Eisenberg, Mark J. Magnesium deficiency and sudden death. American Heart Journal, Vol. 124, No. 2, August 1992, pp. 544-49)
(8) (Shechter, Michael, et al. The rationale of magnesium supplementation in acute myocardial infarction: a review of the literature. Archives of Internal Medicine, Vol. 152, November 1992, pp. 2189-96)
(9)Ott, Peter and Fenster, Paul. Should magnesium be part of the routine therapy for acute myocardial infarction? American Heart Journal, Vol. 124, No. 4, October 1992, pp. 1113-18
(10)Dubey, Anjani and Solomon, Richard. Magnesium, myocardial ischaemia and arrhythmias: the role of magnesium in myocardial infarction. Drugs, Vol. 37, 1989, pp. 1-7.
(11)England, Michael R., et al. Magnesium administration and dysrhythmias after cardiac surgery. Journal of the American Medical Association, Vol. 268, No. 17, November 4, 1992, pp. 2395-2402
(12)Yusuf, Salim, et al. Intravenous magnesium in acute myocardial infarction. Circulation, Vol. 87, No. 6, June 1993, pp. 2043-46
(13) Woods, Kent L. and Fletcher, Susan. Long-term outcome after intravenous magnesium sulphate in suspected acute myocardial infarction: the second Leicester Intravenous Magnesium Intervention Trial (LIMIT-2). The Lancet, Vol. 343, April 2, 1994, pp. 816-19
(14) (The effect of preoperative magnesium supplementation on blood catecholamine concentrations in patients undergoing CABG. Pasternak, et al; Magnes Res. 2006 Jun;19(2):11322;http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=16955723&itool=iconabstr&itool=pubmed_DocSum
(15) Jee SH, Miller ER 3rd, et al, The effect of magnesium supplementation on blood pressure; a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials, Am J Hypertens 2002 Aug;15(8):691-6
(16) http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/105/9/1135.full
(17)http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/features/periodontal-disease-heart-health?page=3
(18)http://www.perio.org/consumer/mbc.heart.htm
(19) http://healthmantra.com/pt-art9.shtml
(20)http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2000/11/001113071724.htm
(21)Mattila KJ, et al: Association between dental health and acute myocardial infarction. Brit Med J 298:779-782,1989
(22) DeStefano F, et al:Dental disease and risk of coronary heart disease and mortality. Brit Med J 306:688-691, 1993
(23)Magnesium and the inflammatory response: Potential physiopathological implications. Andrzej Mazura, Jeanette A.M. Maierb, Edmond Rocka, Elyett Gueuxa, Wojciech Nowackic and Yves Rayssiguiera. University of Milan, Department of Preclinical Sciences, Milan, Italy
(24)Magnesium and inflammation: lessons from animal models] Clin Calcium. 2005 Feb;15(2):245-8. Review. Japanese.PMID: 15692164 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE
(25) Am J Physiol. 1992;263:R734-7
(26) Thorax. 1972 March; 27(2): 212–218. Magnesium in patients undergoing open-heart surgery M. P. Holden, M. I. Ionescu, and G. H. Wooler
(27) Departments of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Cardiology, Gentofte Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
DOI: 10.3109/14017437809100355
(28) Speziale G, Ruvolo G, Fattouch K, et al. Arrhythmia prophylaxis after coronary artery bypass grafting: regimens of magnesium sulfate administration. Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2000; 48: 22–6.[Medline]
(29) Dorman BH, Sade RM, Burnette JS, et al. Magnesium supplementation in the prevention of arrhythmias in pediatric patients undergoing surgery for congenital heart defects. Am Heart J 2000; 139: 522–8.[Medline]

(30) The CABG with extracorporeal circulation resulted in a significant decrease in blood Mg concentration. Changes of blood magnesium concentration in patients undergoing surgical myocardial revascularization. Pasternak, et al; Magnes Res. 2006 Jun;19(2):107-12j;http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?itool=abstractplus&db
=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=abstractplus&list_uids=16955722
(31) Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 1997 September; 79(5): 349–354.
(32) American Heart Journal. 2000;139(3)
(33) American Heart Journal. 2000;139(3)
(34) Perioperative coronary artery spasm in off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting and its possible relation with perioperative hypomagnesemia. Ann Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2006 Feb;12(1):32-6.
PMID: 16572072 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] Pubmed
(35) Ann Thorac Surg 2001;72:1256-1262
(36) Delhumeau A, Granry JC, Cottineau C, Bukowski JG, Corbeau JJ, Moreau X. Comparative vascular effects of magnesium sulphate and nicardipine during cardiopulmonary bypass (French). Ann Fr Anesth Réanim 1995; 14: 149–53.[Medline]
(37) American Heart Journal. 2000;139(3)
(38) Magnesium as a neuroprotectant in cardiac surgery: A randomized clinical trial. The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery August 2007 (Vol. 134, Issue 2, Page A25)
(39) Journal International Journal of Hematology. ISSN 0925-5710 Issue Volume 77, Number 4 / May, 2003
(40) http://www.drmyhill.co.uk/article.cfm?id=325
(41) Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica, Volume 51, Number 4, April 2007 , pp. 482-489(8)
(42) The Effect of Magnesium Sulphate on Hemodynamics and Its Efficacy in Attenuating the Response to Endotracheal Intubation in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease G. D. Puri, MD, PhD*, K. S. Marudhachalam, MD, DA, DNB*, Pramila Chari, MD, FAMS, MAMS, DA?, and R. K. Suri, MS, FAMst Departments of *Anaesthesia and Intensive Care and tcardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh, India http://www.anesthesia-analgesia.org/cgi/reprint/87/4/808.pdf
(43) (England MR, Gordon G, Salem M, Chernow B. Magnesium administration and dysrhythmias after cardiac surgery. A placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized trial. JAMA 1992; 268: 2395–402.)
(44) http://medicalcenter.osu.edu/patiented/materials/pdfdocs/dis-cond/cardio...
(45)http://www.emaxhealth.com/1020/80/35141/enlarged-heart-athletes-not-uncommon.html
(46) http://www.hughston.com/hha/a_16_4_4.htm