Magnesium - did you get levels checked?

[LazyMoose]

Do you take Magnesium and did you get levels tested (what test?) before taking it?

I have only been tested after taking Magnesium for quite a while and have just read the standard mag test may be inaccurate, that is why I ask this.

On the subject of Magnesium -I'm going to switch from mixing Mag oxide and Mag citrate to only Mag citrate and see If I notice any difference in muscle / nerve conditions / comfort levels. Mainly foot, hand, calve discomfort. T3 helps a lot, but I am forever searching for the rest of the puzzle.

[Barb135]

I take my levo at 3:30 am and cytomel at 7:00 am, so "can" take my calcium/magnesium at noon and around 6:00 pm, giving my thyroid med(s) plenty of time to be absorbed. The problem is that during my work hours, I don't always remember to take that noon dose, so often don't take it until after I get home from work.  

[LazyMoose]

I take magnesium anywhere from 6 - 11 Pm. I take dessicated 2 X per day so I don't want Mag to interfere with absorbing.

[Barb135]

Gonna have to check into that -- the brand I buy says it's made for "ultra absorbency", so nothing can get better, right? ........LOL    Just kidding -- we all know that each brand says they are better than another!!  I've been taking the same brand for some time and had good luck.

I take 2 of MY (LOL) brand/day - when I don't forget; it does help with muscle soreness, but doesn't do much for my sleep.  

That's an interesting concept though.  What time of the day did you take your doses?  I usually take mine about mid-late afternoon to late evening.  

[LazyMoose]

Well I went to the supp / vitamin store to pick up some Mag Citrate, which I had had before. The clerk talked me into Mag Glycinate, said its known for soothing muscles, the bottle even said so. I never seen it before. Label says take 2 daily for a total of 400mg / day.

First try I slept like a baby (kept hitting the snooze button in the morn!). Well see what it does for muscle soreness.

[Barb135]

I know the magnesium helps me with the muscle pain, too, although it's not done anything for the constipation issue, although I know it should.  I also know that it doesn't help some people, so maybe it has to do with whether or not one is deficient; if you don't really need it, it won't help you.

I'm going to keep researching.  I do believe that we all need vitamins/minerals in the right amounts; all things in moderation.  

[magpieannie]

Let me know what you discover. I do feel like magnesium has made a difference for my daughter and has helped with the muscle pain, constipation and she sleeps well just about every night now. Thanks for reading the articles.

[Barb135]

I also read the other article that you posted.  Some very interesting facts about magnesium.  I've read for a long time that magnesium can help eliminate muscle/joint pain and muscle cramps, both of which I get sometimes quite often.  I've also read that it can help calm us so we sleep better.  I want to do some more research on the whole issue.

[magpieannie]

Thanks Barb. I really appreciate your help and insite.-----Anne

[Barb135]

I took a look at the calcium link real quickly. Here's what I got from it, so maybe you shouldn't be too concerned.

Just one quote from the article:
"This was another example of bad research, poorly constructed from a scientific point of view. But it does contain an element of truth that we all need to understand."

Please note that the author is saying this is "bad research", "poorly conducted from a scientific point of view".  

It goes on to say: "As we reported just last month, supplemental calcium should never be taken alone. It needs additional magnesium, vitamin D, omega–3 fatty acids, and vitamin K (in particular, vitamin K-2, which is especially important). Without these essential co-factors, the calcium may end up in our blood vessels or our heart, where it causes harm, rather than our bones, where it is needed. So long as these co-factors are taken as well, many studies have shown that added calcium plays an important role in building and maintaining bone mass—and also reduces the risk of colon cancer."

I wish I had the ability to highlight things here, because this is important. Calcium is not a bad thing, it simply needs all of the co-factors, in the right amounts, to make it work.  In order for calcium to be absorbed, one needs magnesium and vitamin D, particularly.  

That said -- I want to make it perfectly clear that all vitamins/minerals must be balanced.  Large amounts of any one can cause issues if the "complementary" vitamins/minerals are not also present.  

[Barb135]

I haven't had a chance to be on here much the past couple of days, but I really want to look at the links you posted.  I'll try to do it in the morning.  

My magnesium bottle says it's 400 mg/serving size, with a serving being 3 capsules - I take 2 capsules/day.

Look at the serving size and # of tablets/pills/capsules recommended/day.  

Maybe you could simplify the vitamin D by not giving her such a large dose and giving it daily.  If you are giving 5000 iu every other day, maybe 1000-2000/day would suffice?  

[magpieannie]

After I reread the article about magnesium I decided to examine thye bottles more closely-even though it says 500mg on the front of the bottle the back of the bottle says something different (just as the article says) 200mg per serving and a serving is 2 capsules- so don't worry even at 2 per day she was only getting 200mg (instead of 1000), and at 1 per day she was getting 100mg (instead of 500) I feel better now, stupid but better! LOL!!!

[magpieannie]

Thanks for the info. I should have already known this, however now I do. I'll definitly be more cautious with this and all suppliments. I recently read an article about calcium that scared me a little as I also give her this at night along with vitamin D, Omega 3 fish oil, probiotics,and 1/2 an adult dose multi.vitamin. I know to be careful with the vitamin D so I only give it to her everyother night (5000iu). However, I was unaware about the calcium and magnesium. Here is the link about the co factors needed with calcium. I think we have all these covered except for vitamin k2-unless there is enough of it in her multi. Anyway, here is the link if you'd like to read it and give me your opinions thyat I very much value.
http://www.anh-usa.org/calcium-and-heart-attack%e2%80%94what-you-really-need-to-know/
Also, here is an article about magnesium that I'd love to get your opinions on if you have time?
  http://www.drhotze.com/Data-Pool/Articles/Dr--Carolyn-Dean/THE-MIRACLE-OF-MAGNESIUM.aspx

Thanks!

[LazyMoose]

Some good info here!

I might just go with 500 mg , but stick with mag citrate only to see if it help with soreness vs mag oxide. I think I do notice better sleeping with the citrate so that tells me there is a difference.

I only take Magnesium at night, I don't want it to interfere with my Erfa thyroid that I take morning and afternoon.

Magnesium is a metal, not a vitamin, so that right there is why too much can be too much.

[Barb135]

Here's a tidbit that I grabbed from WebMD:  "Magnesium is LIKELY SAFE for most people when taken by mouth or when the prescription-only, injectable product is used correctly. In some people, magnesium might cause stomach upset, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and other side effects.

Doses less than 350 mg per day are safe for most adults. When taken in very large amounts, magnesium is POSSIBLY UNSAFE. Large doses might cause too much magnesium to build up in the body, causing serious side effects including an irregular heartbeat, low blood pressure, confusion, slowed breathing, coma, and death.

Special Precautions & Warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Magnesium is LIKELY SAFE for pregnant or breast-feeding women when taken by mouth in the amounts recommended. These amounts depend on the age of the woman. Check with your healthcare provider to find out what amounts are right for you.

Heart block: High doses of magnesium (typically delivered by IV) should not be given to people with heart block.

Kidney problems, such as kidney failure: Kidneys that don’t work well have trouble clearing magnesium from the body. Taking extra magnesium can cause magnesium to build up to dangerous levels. Don’t take magnesium if you have kidney problems."

You can check it out - they tell what it's used for, what foods to get it from, etc.  They also provide dosing guidelines.  

I think the main thing is, as always -- moderation in all things.  Just because a little is good, doesn't mean a lot is better.

[magpieannie]

Okay, I've only given her the 500mg morning and night for a few days now, so I'll cut it back to only at night and only 500mg. The Naturalpath suggested the temporary change in dosage after changinging her magnesium to one that is more absorbable. Her PCP began her on magnesium more than a year ago for the severe hypo. issues of muscle pain and joint pain and constipation. I've never had any testing on this level since she began taking it, that is until the Naturalpath recently tested her for it (not a main-stream test) and seemed to feel she needed more and a different type. Even though she is a child, she does weigh as much as an adult (120 lbs). What are the dangers of having too much magnesium? Maybe trying a little more magnesium LM would make a difference in these last aches and pains you are having?

[stella5349]

Recently with my doctor - she told me about the RBC magnesium test. Of course I did a little checking into that and again I was shocked on how inaccurate the regular magnesium test was.

Its a special test that many labs are actually clueless about but is the most reliable source of magnesium testing available to show free levels in the system

Hard mineral base is hard to lab test and is similiar to decifering between free and stored levels. If you cam imagine a TSH test as similiar to these - you could see why a push for RBC magnesium should be done.

Citrate really is well absorbed.

[Barb135]

Oops!!!    Sorry, I meant to say "I agree that 1000 mg/day seems like a lot for a child" not 500 mg/day.

[Barb135]

I take magnesium very day (when I don't forget....lol).   My doctor didn't suggest testing until I had been on it for quite some time (not forgetting it, like I do now), so my test was in the "normal" range; however, even with supplementing I was "low normal".  

I take the citrate type of magnesium and make sure I get it in capsule form, which seems to work best for me.  

It does help with the joint/muscle aches/pains and because it's also calming it can be a good thing at bed time.  I have been taking it twice/day (lunch time and bed time), but lately,  I've tended to get too tired in the afternoon, so thinking to eliminate the lunch time one.  I know my frees are down (still normal, but not where I need them to be), so that would have a bearing on my tiredness as well, though.

I believe my capsules are either 200 or 250 mg/each.  I'd have to look and I'm not home right now.

I agree that 500 mg/day seems like a lot for a child.

[LazyMoose]

1000 mg of Mag per day - did I read that right?  That is a lot even for a adult from what I've read. What symptoms did it seem to improve?

I get palps if frees are too low.

[magpieannie]

I recently had my daughter change types of magnesium from reacted magnesium stearate to magnesium malate. Her Naturalpath said she tested better for the malate and has her take two per day at 500 mg in thye morning and 500 mg at night. We are using NutraMedix brand. I had her magnesium level tested 1 and 1/2 years ago when she was having heart palps with a blood test. It was in range. However, both her doctors now insist that she take it and it seems to help her feel better. She is completly switched over to the Erfa now (2 1/2 grains-1 week now) and is having no joint or muscle pain and doing great so far (knock on wood). Thanks for all your help!