Why We Should be Cautious About High Rates of Magnesium

[tex]

A severe magnesium deficiency can cause cardiac issues, and even cardiac arrest. But so can way too much magnesium.

Unlike other nutrients, a high percentage of magnesium is normally absorbed in the terminal ileum and the colon. From page 106 of Understanding Microscopic Colitis:

Approximately 11 % of magnesium is absorbed in the duodenum and 22 % is absorbed in the jejunum (Albion Laboratories, Inc., n.d.).98 But about 56 % of magnesium is absorbed in the ileum and another 11 % is absorbed in the colon, both of which are inflamed in most MC patients (Albion Laboratories, Inc., n.d., Koskela, 2011).98,53

98. Advantages of magnesium bisglycinate chelate buffered. (n.d.). Albion Laboratories, Inc. Retrieved from http://www.albionminerals.com/human-nut ... hite-paper

53. Koskela, R. (2011). Microscopic colitis: Clinical features and gastroduodenal and immunogenic findings. (Doctoral dissertation, University of Oulu). Retrieved from http://herkules.oulu.fi/isbn97895142941 ... 294150.pdf

Bear in mind that in February of 2010 (due to a hereditary massive colonic bleeding disorder that can occur at any time) my colon and part of my terminal ileum were surgically removed to save me from bleeding to death. So obviously my ability to absorb magnesium was drastically diminished. That's why I took high rates of magnesium supplements for years. But apparently my digestive system learned to adapt, and I eventually regained my ability to absorb magnesium.

I say this because last year in March (2017) I had an arrhythmia followed in a few weeks by a stroke. I was still taking 500–600 mg of magnesium the time. At the first signs of the arrhythmia, I stopped my magnesium supplements for a day or so and then resumed taking it at 300 mg per day. But maybe the magnesium was not really a factor in the stroke, because the stroke was due to a narrowing in the fork of a blood vessel at the base of the brain. I do however consider the arrhythmia to have been caused by too much magnesium in the blood.

I have continued to take 300 mg of magnesium glycinate. On Monday of this week I had a blood draw for a number of tests, including Magnesium. Most test results were posted by Monday afternoon. The RBC magnesium results were posted today:

Magnesium, RBC ........ 2.6mmol/L ........ Standard Range ........ 1.5–3.1 mmol/l

This is 6.3 mg/dL.

Interestingly the normal range used by this lab (when converted from 1.5–3.1 mmol/l) is 3.65–7.54 mg/dL, which obviously allows normal levels too low to meet the claims made by Dr. Carolyn Dean, but exceeds them significantly, on the upper end. Dr. Dean recommends a minimum of 6.0–6.5 mg/mL.

At any rate, in light of these results, it's not surprising that I developed an arrhythmia when I was taking 500–600 mg of magnesium for years. That was way too much magnesium (at least in my case). For me, 300 mg of magnesium glycinate appears to quite sufficient.

Am I looking at this wrong, or does this make sense?

Tex

[skp]

Tex,
That's great that your RBC magnesium test was 6.3 mg/dl on just 3 Doctor's Best magnesium. Good news!

Thanks for the good magnesium posting.

Susan

[Erica P-G]

Your numbers look correct to me....

I only take 400mg a day unless I start to get mini migraines or cramping in my legs or feet then I apply some externally at the site of pain, but only then. I haven't exceeded 400mg magnesium in quite a few months, but I have had to apply some external mag every once in a while, I would think that I am not hurting myself at that point since I don't do it but only as needed.

Those just figuring out that they have MC or a Colitis issue most likely will need to have a higher end Mag plus VitD for a little while, it just seems to be the first major element to be depleted from the body.

On note of VitD....since I have had higher levels of VitD (83) in my body this Summer I do not notice my skin burning like it used to. I was outside for about an hour or so pulling weeds and mowing a medium size lawn and all I wore was a floppy hat and criss cross shirt no sleeves and shorts and my arms or legs were not sensitive when I was all done. I was dripping sweat in every nook and cranny that had a piece of clothing on it....but I am not burned and I ALWAYS have gotten burned being out in the sun that long. Note: it was probably 10 a.m. when I quit and 86 degrees full sun, now it is 100

[tex]

Hi Erica,

I agree with you — early on we almost surely need higher rates of vitamin D and magnesium to rebuild our reserves. After a year or two though, we need to consider lowering our supplementation rates or carefully monitoring our levels with the appropriate tests.

That's an interesting observation about sunburn risk. I never noticed that effect before, but now that you mention it, I don't seem to ever have sunburn problems anymore.

Tex

[wmonique2]

Hi Tex,

Glad you figured it out!

So what do you think supplementation for us should be?

Thanks,

Love,

Monique

[tex]

Hi Monique,

This seems to be highly dependent on individual needs and the ability to absorb magnesium — some of us seem to have a lot more trouble absorbing it than others. But I believe the current recommendation of 400–600 mg of magnesium for newly diagnosed MC cases is probably on target (although some of that might need to be topical). If the higher rates are used, it's probably a good idea to start checking the RBC magnesium levels after about 6 months to a year.

On the other hand, if only 200–300 mg are used (and the dose is spread throughout the day), there's probably little or no risk of accumulating excess amounts of magnesium in the blood, so there probably wouldn't be any need to closely monitor the levels. That said, anyone who has compromised kidney function should always be cautious, and check with their doctor and/or closely monitor their RBC levels of magnesium.

After we've got our RBC levels back up to a more normal level, there's probably no need to take more than the RDA for magnesium. But that's just my opinion. There's a lot that we (and the medical profession) don't know about magnesium, and exactly how it relates to various diseases.

Love,

Tex