Magnesium and insulin and chf

Magnesium is a mineral that we must get from our food or supplementation and can’t make in the body. It is used by every organ in the body, including the heart and kidneys. It helps regulate calcium, copper, zinc, potassium and vitamin D. Foods that are rich in magnesium include whole grains, nuts and green leafy vegetables.

Interestingly, researchers have found that people with diabetes are often low in magnesium. And that the reverse is also true. Magnesium plays an important role in the use of insulin in the body. Some studies have suggested that magnesium supplements can help to control blood sugar and insulin sensitivity in people with diabetes or prediabetes.

Magnesium is particularly important to the health of your heart muscle. Magnesium will help to maintain a normal heart rhythm. Magnesium, calcium and potassium all work together to ensure that your heart functions properly. These minerals must have the precise ratio to have optimal function in the heart.

Magnesium has also been used in the treatment of eclampsia and preeclampsia in pregnancy, arrhythmia, asthma and migraines. It can relieve symptoms of leg cramps, constipation and dysmenorrhea.

In a study published in the Journal of Pakistan Medical Association, researchers found that individuals with diabetes mellitus and congestive heart failure (CHF) also had low levels of magnesium. (1) People with congestive heart failure are also at higher risk for developing arrhythmias of the heart muscle. During an arrhythmia the heart muscle doesn’t beat in rhythm and therefore cannot pump blood effectively. While the heart does continue to have muscle contractions, those contractions are ineffective. Depending upon the length of time and type of arrhythmia the brain soon loses oxygen supply and the individual can either die or suffer brain damage.

Treatment with magnesium in people with diabetes and or congestive heart failure can help to improve blood sugar control as demonstrated by A1C blood values and reduce the potential for heart arrhythmias. However, before adding a magnesium supplement to your daily regimen you must check with your doctor and your pharmacist to ensure that the magnesium will not interfere with any underlying medical condition or current medication that you are taking.

References:

(1) Journal of Pakistan Medical Association: Magnesium Deficiency in heart failure patients with diabetes mellitus

http://jpma.org.pk/full_article_text.php?article_id=2977

Resources:

University of Maryland Medical Center: Magnesium

http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/supplement/magnesium

American Family Physician: Therapeutic Uses of Magnesium

http://www.aafp.org/afp/2009/0715/p157.html

The Clinical Biochemist Reviews: Magnesium Metabolism and its Disorders

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1855626/

NYU Langone: Magnesium

http://www.med.nyu.edu/content?ChunkIID=21795