Message: Magnesium is an important element in many physiological processes and its uses as a supplement range from depression to bone, muscle, and joint strengthening to blood vessels protection.
Recent research in France showed the role of magnesium in the regulation of thyroid hormones, insulin, estrogen, testosterone, brain chemicals such as dopamine, catecholamines, serotonin, GABA, and body’s electrolytes. Magnesium controls the turnover of potassium and calcium in the body so deficit of magnesium causes calcium to be lost with the urine but deposited in the kidneys, arteries, joints, brain, where it is not welcome.
Magnesium protects the cell from poisonous metals like aluminum, mercury, lead, cadmium, beryllium and nickel, which can contribute to Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases multiple sclerosis, and learning retardation.
Magnesium glycinate is considered the preferred source of magnesium. This form combines benefits of amino acid glycine & magnesium. It may also be less laxative and less irritating for the stomach than some other forms of magnesium. As to its role in as a weight loss aid, it’d be no surprise if you remember the significance of hyroid hormones, insulin, estrogen, testosterone, serotonin, GABA, and calcium in body fat deposition and appetite control.
Hypericum (St. John’s Wort) is a common perennial plant with yellow flowers growing in the meadows and along the roads. It contains many chemical compounds. The active ingredients include hypericin and hyperforin.
St. John’s Wort likely lifts mood by boosting serotonin levels, a brain chemical that is a big part of emotion control. Serotonin is “messenger” that affects sleep, appetite, and mood. Low levels of it may result in depression, food cravings and low quality sleep. Clinical trials found that St. John’s Wort controls moderate depression as well as antidepressants do, and with practically no side effects.
In Germany herbal medicines are government-regulated and almost 30 million prescriptions for St. John’s Wort are written annually instead of pharmaceutical grade antidepressants. Recent studies suggest that St. John’s wort is of no benefit in treating major depression. Don’t try to substitute your prescription antidepressants before you discuss it with your doctor.
What is the problem?
Vitamin D deficiency has been linked not only to bone health, but also some types of cancer, lowered immune function, and kidney disease. Recent studies showed that vitamin D may preserve cognitive function exerting its neuroprotective effects via the vitamin D receptors abundantly expressed in regions frequently affected in cases of neurodegenerative diseases such as the hypothalamus, substantia nigra, cortex and hippocampus. An increased incidence of Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia and depression (including depression as a symptom of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, Clinical Rheumatology 1434-9949, 26, 4, April 2007) associated with vitamin D deficiency were reported (J Chem Neuroanat 2005;29:21-30.)
What are the causes?
Decreased bioavailability of vitamin D can be caused by malabsorption often present in cystic fibrosis, celiac disease, Whipple’s disease, Crohn’s disease, bypass surgery, and medications that reduce cholesterol absorption. 86,87
Obesity also educes availability of vitamin D locking it in the body fat depots.
Anticonvulsants, glucocorticoids
Inadequate sun exposure including that due to excessive sunscreen use
(N Engl J Med 2007;357:266-81)
Prevention by supplementation
Most experts agree that current recommendations for daily intake of vitamin D are in fact inadequate: without adequate sun exposure, children and adults require approximately 800 to 1000 IU per day (J Clin Invest 2006;
116:2062-72; Primer on the metabolic bone diseases and disorders of mineral metabolism. 6th ed. Washington, DC: American
Society for Bone and Mineral Research, 2006:129-37; Endocrinology. Philadelphia: W.B.Saunders, 2001:1009-28)
Related post: Both hypervitaminosis D3 and hypovitaminosis D3 cause premature aging of CNS
What is the problem?
Vitamin D deficiency has been linked not only to bone health, but also some types of cancer, lowered immune function, and kidney disease. Recent studies showed that vitamin D may preserve cognitive function exerting its neuroprotective effects via the vitamin D receptors abundantly expressed in regions frequently affected in cases of neurodegenerative diseases such as the hypothalamus, substantia nigra, cortex and hippocampus. An increased incidence of Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia and depression (including depression as a symptom of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome, Clinical Rheumatology 1434-9949, 26, 4, April 2007) was proved to be associated with vitamin D deficiency (J Chem Neuroanat 2005;29:21-30.)
What are the causes?
- Decreased bioavailability of vitamin D can be caused by malabsorption often present in cystic fibrosis, celiac disease, Whipple’s disease, Crohn’s disease, bypass surgery, and medications that reduce cholesterol absorption.
- Obesity also educes availability of vitamin D locking it in the body fat depots.
- Anticonvulsants, glucocorticoids
- Inadequate sun exposure including that due to excessive sunscreen use
(N Engl J Med 2007;357:266-81)
Prevention by supplementation
Most experts agree that current recommendations for daily intake of vitamin D are in fact inadequate: without adequate sun exposure, children and adults require approximately 800 to 1000 IU per day (J Clin Invest 2006; 116:2062-72; Primer on the metabolic bone diseases and disorders of mineral metabolism. 6th ed. Washington, DC: American Society for Bone and Mineral Research, 2006:129-37; Endocrinology. Philadelphia: W.B.Saunders, 2001:1009-28)
