The Role of Magnesium in Fibromyalgia (and other disorders)

[Barbarannamated]

Collection of journal articles about the role of magnesium in fibromyalgia, sleep, osteoporosis, insulin resistance, and other disorders.

*Author posits mediation of noradrenaline and nerve function by magnesium.

 

THE ROLE OF MAGNESIUM IN FIBROMYALGIA

 

http://web.mit.edu/london/www/magnesium.html

 

An investigatory paper by Mark London

 

This web page was the result of my research regarding magnesium,and why it's important not only for the average person,but especially for people with fibromyalgia. If you aren't interested in reading lots of studies, and are already convinced of magnesium's importance,then just click here to get to my recommendations. Please note,magnesium is only one of many possible treatments that can help fibromyalgia. It, by itself, cannot effectively treat it.

 

Magnesium deficiency is very common in the general US population. Not only is our daily intake low,but we eat a diet which increases the demand for magnesium. And unfortunately,urinary magnesium loss can be increased by many factors,both physical and emotional. Magnesium loss increases in the presence of certain hormones. Stress can greatly increase magnesium loss. Even loud noises can cause magnesium loss. One article on the web goes so far as to say that that almost everyone is the United States is at least marginally deficient in magnesium. So there is an excellent chance that a person with fibromyalgia has a magnesium deficiency. But since people with fibromyalgia often have high levels of stress,and a disrupted hormonal system,they are more likely to be candidates for magnesium deficiency. Magnesium utilization is also increased by the presence of estrogen,and this might explain why many women are diagnosed with fibromyalgia after menopause,when estrogen levels would decrease. Additionally,the sleep disruption which occurs in fibromyalgia might also affect magnesium utilization,as sleep deprivation has been shown to cause lower magnesium levels.

 

*Without enough magnesium,nerves fire too easily from even minor stimuli. Noises will sound excessively loud,lights will seem too bright,emotional reactions will be exaggerated, and the brain will be too stimulated to sleep,all symptoms commonly found in fibromyalgia. And if the oversensitivity to light and noise reminds you of someone suffering from a hangover,they are one and the same problem,as alcohol is known for decreasing magnesium levels,and magnesium supplementation has been found to relieve hangover symptoms.

 

Another commonly found condition in fibromyalgia which has nervous related symptoms is reactive hypoglycemia. Anxiety related symptoms occur after carbohydrate intake,and this is believed to be due to either an excess release of adrenaline,or a higher sensitivity to adrenaline. In either case,a deficiency of magnesium could be a factor,as magnesium deficiency appears to associated with anxiety and high levels of adrenaline.

 

Copyright © 2007 Contents of this article are the property of Mark R. London, MRL@PSFC.MIT.EDU Contents can be forwarded to other people and posted on the internet,as long as it is forwarded in full.