Magnesium for Constipation -is that an option

[garina]

My D issues have been gone for a few years now, luckily, but now I'm very constipated, and everything I do doesn't seem to work. I already take magnesium citrate, about 400 mg daily and have for a long time now, plus Metamucil for a long time which seems to have quit working. I eat oatmeal practically every morning with an egg, veggies, most every day, esp. asparagus, which I love, fish, not so much red meat, walk 2 miles every day, and I don't know what else to do.

Due to somewhat elevated blood sugar levels, not diabetic, but I watch that closely, I eat very low carb (except oatmeal), nothing white, so no bread, no rice, and I'm gluten free and have been since MC started several years ago (thanks to Tex and everyone here). So, I don't know if constipation is due to MC or eating low carb or just plain old age.

Most of my life I have tended towards C, and all that seems to have come back. When I experienced D initially, I was shocked because never had I been on the other side of C, and the D lasted for more than a year. But, now I don't know what to do. I know many people go through this, so I'm hoping there is help. Thanks so much.

garina

I seem to be able to eat eggs now. When MC started, I couldn't.

[tex]

Hi Garina,

I was just like you — for most of my life I had C. It never dawned on me to try to figure out why. Instead, I tried to remedy it by eating a lot of popcorn, for the fiber and bulk. It was only after I became so severely magnesium deficient roughly 2 years ago that I was lucky enough to catch a magnesium blood test result below range that I figured out why I had C for most of my life. A little research showed that chronic constipation is a symptom of a chronic magnesium deficiency.

And Like you, when I finally ran out of magnesium, I was taking 400 mg per day of magnesium citrate. Or at least I "thought" I was. The problem was that I was actually taking only 200 mg. The front label of the bottle showed 400 mg, but after I finally went to the trouble of reading the fine print on the back, I could see that 400 mg was the amount "per serving", and a "serving" was 2 tablets, not 1. I started taking 400–500 mg of chelated magnesium (magnesium glycinate) in addition to the 200 mg of magnesium citrate that I was already taking, scattered throughout the day so that I could absorb it better, and I was soon much better.

So yes, magnesium is a remedy for constipation, and hypertension, and a lot of things, including prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, believe it or not. For some research references on that, please read the chapter on magnesium in my pancreatic cancer book (which you can download free in digital form from https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/665808 and many other digital booksellers).

A chronic magnesium deficiency causes prediabetes/diabetes by causing insulin resistance. Magnesium deficiency also prevents the pancreas from producing normal amounts of insulin, so it's no wonder that it can lead to type 2 diabetes. But for some unknown reason, most doctors seem to be totally unaware of that. They're too busy prescribing drugs to read up on it, I suppose.

I hope that some of this is helpful.

Tex

[garina]

Tex, I actually had your PC book sitting on my night table, ready to read, but I was already into another book I wanted to finish, but after reading your post, I dropped everything and read your book. It was easy to understand and fast reading, and I'm glad I dropped everything and read it. So informative, especially on magnesium.

I really thought I was getting enough magnesium, but also being on Lasix (diuretic) and drinking 3 cups of coffee every morning, I am probably deficient. So, today, I started taking more magnesium citrate, Life Extension 160 mg each cap, and I took two of those this AM, plus two this afternoon. I'm not familiar with magnesium glycinate, so should I be taking that also?

The correlation between magnesium deficiency and prediabetes and diabetes is telling, so I need to study that some more. I wasn't happy to learn about poultry being a big red flag for PC, plus eggs, actually. And, when I read that PC uses fructose to grow new cells, makes me want to give up all fruit. And I love fruit! And I eat an apple a day plus organic strawberries.

I am going to work hard at trying to clear up this C problem, strictly with magnesium, and I will read more about magnesium glycinate, since this is one you take. I also read in your book that mag. deficiency can cause a decrease in GFR and mine is already decreased to 58 when it should be >60. I can see I have work to do.

Thank you Tex. Glad I ordered your book. Got it from Amazon and it was only a little over $3.00. The information inside is worth way more.

garina

[tex]

I'm not familiar with magnesium glycinate, so should I be taking that also?

Not necessarily. If the magnesium citrate doesn't cause any problems with diarrhea, it usually has a good absorption rate. If it causes D, the magnesium gycinate is less likely to do that. But since you are dealing with constipation to begin with, the magnesium citrate is more likely to resolve C problems (especially in larger doses), so it may be a better choice. If you begin to have problems with D, then switching to magnesium glucinate for at least part of the dose should help to avoid D.

I find that if I reduce my daily dose of magnesium below about 500 mg, symptoms slowly begin to return. So I take 200 mg of magnesium citrate plus 100 mg of magnesium glycinate after breakfast each day, plus another 100 mg of magnesium glycinate after each of the other meals, later in the day, for a total of 500 mg of magnesium. My multivitamin contains 80 mg of magnesium oxide, but I don't even count that because less than 2 % of magnesium oxide is absorbed. That's why larger doses of magnesium oxide make such a good laxative, because almost all of it stays in the gut. Magnesium that is not absorbed remains in the gut to act as a laxative.

But regarding dosing, remember that part of my terminal ileum was surgically removed (along with my colon) over 6 years ago, and that very likely reduces my ability to absorb magnesium. Also, I eat no vegetables (other than potatoes) because of my ileostomy (which requires a low-fiber diet). IOW, you may not need as much supplemental magnesium as I do. It's always a good idea to not take more magnesium than is actually needed (to rebuild reserves) because any excess in the bloodstream that cannot be used or stored, must be removed by the kidneys, and way too much magnesium in the blood can overwork the kidneys (IOW, too much can cause the same problems as too little).

As discussed in the book, if you have insulin resistance, your system may not be able to transport magnesium into storage at normal rates due to the insulin resistance (and insulin deficiency). If you increase your magnesium supplement in steps, your insulin resistance should become less and less of a problem, and your insulin production (by the pancreas) should increase, so that after a few weeks or months, your system should be able to handle more magnesium and utilize it better to restore your reserves.

Absorption rates vary of course, but I would guess that up to 50 % of the magnesium in magnesium citrate is absorbed into the bloodstream where it can be used or stored in cells for later use. Magnesium glycinate is usually absorbed slightly better because it's bonded with glycine. Glycine is an amino acid, and of course amino acids are readily absorbed, so by linking magnesium with glycine, that enhances the absorption rate of the magnesium.

And, when I read that PC uses fructose to grow new cells, makes me want to give up all fruit. And I love fruit! And I eat an apple a day plus organic strawberries.

There's no research to back up this opinion, but I have a hunch that the fructose in most fruit and vegetables may not be as big a risk as the fructose in overused sweeteners such as corn syrup and especially high-fructose corn syrup. IMO, normal amounts of fruit and vegetables probably carry only a small risk. But living on them (the way that Steve Jobs did) very likely does impose a much higher risk.

You're most welcome,
Tex

[Gabes-Apg]

as someone who has had C issues during the MC journey I can offer the following suggestions;

- with the magnesium, as you get to higher intake doses, and the C alleviates, dont stop the magnesium. If you get loose stools, dont stop the magnesium, just reduce the dose a bit. it can take 24-48 hours for slight improvements to happen.
with your medication and coffee intake I would guess that you would need at least 600mg of magnesium per day, and maybe higher than this for a few weeks if you are deficient. When i had bad C and was magnesium deficient I was taking about 800-1200mg per day (combo of oral and topical) to resolve the deficiency and help to correct C issues.
knowing what we know now about absorption, I was maybe only absorbing about 60% of the oral mag.
you may want to consider the Dr Dean ReMag drops product that is highly absorbable,


some other suggestions that can help alleviate C issues
- increase water intake
- increase safe oil intake, coconut oil, avocado oil, etc
- having additional animal fat, fattier cuts of safe meats, oily fish etc
this will also increase amino acid intake which is important for healing
- relaxation at meal time and after meal time, mindfullness while eating,
- subtle increase in gentle fibre, small peeled apple, eaten slowly (the pectin helps to alleviate inflammation)
- what is your Vit D levels like / how much are you taking?

hope this helps

[garina]

Tex,

I think the magnesium citrate is starting to work, and I am happy. Knowledge is a beautiful thing. I don't know where you get your expertise from, but I'm grateful.
I had forgotten about your ileum/colon surgery and that you can't eat veggies. I'm sure you had to learn about the magnesium deficiency on your own, because doctors seem to do the surgery and send people on their way.

I started by taking some at breakfast, then, lunch, then dinner, adding up to about 500 mg of mag. citrate. It did help. It would be great if all this helps not only C but blood sugar. According to your book, it will, although, I do test at least on a daily basis. I can't let it escalate.

Many thanks for all the help.


Gabes,

I know, I have a coffee thing, and I sure do enjoy my morning coffee! I do need more mag. with Lasix and my coffee habit. I will also check into Dr. Dean's ReMag drops. I checked the store this afternoon and didn't see it, so I'll check online, probably Amazon. My Vitamin D3 was 57 last time. I do take about 3,000 every day. Thanks for your advice about drinking more water, etc. I will do that, but the relaxation part, that's tough. I think I'm a Type A! I'll try.

Thank you, thank you. Big help.

garina

[Vanessa]

Hey Garuda,

You can buy ReMag at RnAreset.com You can also do a search on the same website for info about diabetes and blood sugar.

[garina]

Thanks Vanessa, I will check into the site. I feel so much better having learned more about how magnesium works for us, and the liquid mag, I'm guessing, would work quite well.

I've taken to Tex's PC book like glue! It's such a huge help.

Much appreciated.

garina