13) TYPE 2 DIABETES SUPPLEMENTS
h) Magnesium
There has been little publicity of the "Honolulu Study", which found a strong correlation between magnesium (Mg) intake and heart disease. It found that magnesium in the diet can reduce the incidence of heart disease by up to 40%. Most dietary magnesium comes from vegetables, particularly dark-green, leafy vegetables. Other foods that are good sources of magnesium are tofu, beans, nuts, and yellow and orange vegetables. All of these foods are very healthy in general.
"Reported findings are based on dietary Mg intake in 7,172 men in the Honolulu Heart Program. Intake of Mg was recorded at baseline examinations that took place from 1965 to 1968 when the men were aged 45 to 68 years. In 30 years of follow-up, 1,431 incident cases of coronary heart disease were identified. Within 15 years after dietary assessment, the age-adjusted incidence decreased significantly from 7.3 to 4.0 per 1,000 person-years in the lowest (50.3 to 186 mg/day) versus highest (340 to 1,183 mg/day) quintiles of Mg intake (p <0.001). When adjustments were made for age and other nutrients (singly or combined), there was a 1.7- to 2.1-fold excess in the risk of coronary heart disease in the lowest versus highest quintiles (p <0.001). The excess risk ranged from 1.5- to 1.8-fold after further adjustment for other cardiovascular risk factors (p <0.05). Associations between dietary Mg and coronary events occurring after 15 years of follow-up were modest. We conclude that the intake of dietary Mg is associated with a reduced risk of coronary heart disease."
A 2005 study found a benefit to the heart from magnesium supplements. Studies where magnesium is supplied in the water supply rather than the foods have confirmed the beneficial effects of just magnesium by itself. Recent studies have linked the prevalence of the drinking of bottled water with increased risk of heart attacks. Most bottled water is water which has gone through reverse osmosis, a process which removes most of the magnesium found naturally in most water. So magnesium supplements are especially important if a person drinks bottled water.
Studies have shown that HbA1c is lowered in individuals with type 2 diabetes if those individuals take 300 milligrams of elemental magnesium supplement per day if the magnesium is easily soluble (magnesium chloride or magnesium sulfate (Epsom salts), not milk of magnesia or "Mylanta™" type tablets or solutions). Studies have shown that milk of magnesia or "Mylanta™" type tablets or solutions are actually poorly dissolved in the body and thus don't provide large amounts of magnesium unless one takes large amounts.
The Harvard Nurses' Health Study found the risk for developing type 2 diabetes was greater in individuals with a lower magnesium intake. The Women's Health Study found that among women who were overweight, the risk of developing type 2 diabetes was significantly greater among those with lower magnesium intake. The Iowa Women's Health Study found that greater intake magnesium decreased the risk of developing diabetes in older women. Since invariably the actions that prevent type 2 diabetes are the same as the actions that best treat the disease, anyone with type 2 diabetes should probably be taking soluble magnesium supplements. Half a teaspoon of Epsom salts per day will suffice (more than this can result in diarrhea).
Current Chapter: 13) TYPE 2 DIABETES SUPPLEMENTS
a) Introduction
b) The Benefits of Fish Oil
c) Issues with Fish Oil
d) Flax Seed Oil
e) Bad Omega 6 oils
f) Nuts and Phytosterols
g) Aspirin Therapy
h) Magnesium
i) Vitamins C, D and E
j) High Water Intake© Copyright 2009 All Rights Reserved.