<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>> I found the following newsgroup article from a fellow that sells mineral water with a high magnesium content. He claims that our current diet is low in magnesium and that is creating all sorts of ills in our society - mostly heart disease. Since magnesium could be one of the deficiencies of an undiagnosed celiac, I find his research to be of interest. For convenience, I have included below his new material on asthma and migraines. There is also talk in the asthma group from people saying that magnesium supplements have allowed them to reduce their meds. Don Wiss. From: [log in to unmask] (Paul Mason) Newsgroups: sci.med.nutrition,sci.med,misc.health.alternative,sci.life-extension Subject: Medical Journal articles on Asthma and Migraine Date: 27 Aug 1995 03:43:54 GMT A list of excerpts and references of medical journal articles is available, which makes the connections between magnesium deficiency and Asthma, and magnesium-deficiency and Migraine Headache. It is on the WEB at: http://www.execpc.com/~magnesum When you reach the Homepage, click on your choice of ASTHMA or MIGRAINE, as most of the rest of the data deals with Heart Disease. Paul Mason -- More magnesium information can be downloaded from: ftp.execpc.com. The file is in: /pub/magnesium/mgresrch.asc Use "anonymous" as the user name, and set line length to 80. Paul Mason Researcher ============================================================== http://www.execpc.com/~magnesum/asthma.html Asthma and magnesium deficiency ------------------------------- A quick search of Medline brought up numerous references to the connection between magnesium deficiency and asthma. In the past the connection was clouded because researchers were trying to connect asthma to the SERUM level of magnesium, but serum levels cloak the intracellular deficiencies of Mg, so they found no connection. There is still no easy test for Mg deficiency, but by using tissue samples it is with difficulty possible to determine the intracellular deficiency, so now the connection to asthma is becoming clear. Dietary Magnesium, Lung Function, Wheezing, And Airway Hyperreactivity In a Random Adult Population Sample. Lancet 1994 Aug 6;344(8919):357-62. Low magnesium intake may be involved in the aetiology of asthma and chronic obstructive airways disease. Effect of Parenteral Magnesium Sulphate On Pulmonary Functions In Bronchial Asthma. J. Asthma 1994;31(2):109-15. They infused MgSO4 and found: It is concluded that modest improvement in airways resistance and specific conductance and only small improvement in maximal expiratory flow rates is consistent with a predominant effect of MgSO4 on large airways in patients with bronchial asthma. Clinical Studies With The Nova ISE for IMg2+. Scand. J. Clin. Lab Invest Suppl 1994;217:53-67. The Ca2+/Mg2+ ratio appears to be an important guide for signs of vascoconstriction and/or spasm and possibly enhanced athergenesis. Overall, the data point to important uses for ISE's for IMg2+ in the diagnosis and treatment of disease states. (He studied asthma). The Role Of Disorders In The Homeostasis Of Divalent Cations In The Pathogenesis And Clinical Picture Of Bronchial Asthma. (Russian) Ter Arkh 1994; 66(3):8-12. Lack of Mg and excess of Ca in blood cells (seem to be)... responsible for bronchial hyperreactivity. Rapid Infusion Of Magnesium Sulphate Obviates Need For Intubation In Status Asthmaticus. Am J Emerg Med 1994 Mar;12(2):164-6. Rapid infusion of MgSO4 .... obviated the need for endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation. Magnesium Sulphate Potentiates Several Cardiovascular And Metabolic Actions of Terbutaline. Chest 1994 Mar;105(3):701-5. MgSO4 has been shown to be efficacious .... for the emergency treatment of asthma. Magnesium And Its Therapeutic Uses; A Review. Am J Med 1994 Jan; 96(1):63-76 Evidence investigating magnesium's use is presented, with a number of studies suggesting it should be seriously considered in such conditions as .... asthma. Role of Magnesium In Regulation Of Lung Function. J Am Diet Assoc 1993 Jun;93(6):674-7 (Indicates patients should be monitored routinely for Mg deficiency). Intravenous Magnesium For Acute Asthma. Ann Emerg Med 1993 Mar;22(3):617-9 (letter) Hypomagnesemia Due to beta 2-agonist Use In Bronchial Asthma (letter). J Assoc Physicians India 1992 May;40(5):346 There were many other studies and references to magnesium and asthma. Many of the studies noted that drugs used in the treatment of asthma caused loss of magnesium. A great many drugs, including alcohol, cause rapid loss of magnesium. Common sense would suggest that instead of waiting for an asthma attack before dministering magnesium, oral magnesium supplementation should be a part of treatment for asthma as a preventive. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.execpc.com/~magnesum/migraine.html Migraine and magnesium deficiency --------------------------------- A number of studies have been done on the relationship between magnesium deficiency and migraine. Some of these are listed below: Ferrari MD; Biochemistry of migraine; Pathol Biol (Paris) 1992 Apr;40(4). The author discusses changes in neuroexcitatory amino acids and magnesium, which may reflect a predisposition of the migraine patient, notably those having attacks with aura, to develop spreading depression. Gallai V, Sarchielli P, Morucci P, Abbritti G; Magnesium content of mononuclear blood cells in migraine patients; Headache 1994 Mar;34(3):160-5. The migraine patients studied had a reduced mononuclear magnesium content compared to e-matched healthy control subjects. The authors say that the lower magnesium content in mononuclear cells could indirectly indicate the reduction of brain magnesium concentration, which has recently been demonstrated in the course of migraine. Gallai V, Sarchielli P, Morucci P, Abbritti G; Red blood cell magnesium levels in migraine patients; Cephalalgia 1993 Apr;13(2):94-81; discussion 73 The authors believe that low red blood cell magnesium levels could be a peripheral expression of the reduced brain magnesium concentration observed in migraine patients. Gallai V, Sarchielli P, Coata G, Firenze C, Morucci P, Abbritti G; Serum and salivary magnesium levels in migraine: Results in a group of juvenile patients; Headache 1992 Mar;32(3):132-5 "In the last few years a fundamental role for magnesium in establishing the threshold for migraine attacks and involvement in the pathophysiologic mechanisms related to its onset has become evident. In comparison with normal subjects, migraine patients had lower levels of serum and salivary magnesium interictally. Serum magnesium levels tended to be further reduced during attacks (which) could be an expression, at the peripheral level, of reduced cerebral magnesium levels which would contribute, at least in part, to defining the threshold for migraine attacks." Sarchielli P, Coata G, Firenze, Morucci P, Abbritti G, Gallai V; Serum and salivary magnesium levels in migraine and tension-type headache. Results in a group of adult patients. Cephalalgia 1992 Feb;12(1):21-7. The authors state that serum magnesium levels and to a lesser extent salivary magnesium levels might express indirectly the lowering of brain extracellular magnesium concentration which occurs in migraine patients. Taubert K; [Magnesium in migraine. Results of a multicenter pilot study]; Fortschr Med 1994 Aug 30;112(24):328-30. The hypothesis that magnesium may be useful in the prevention of migraine attacks has been confirmed by this pilot study. Further studies are in preparation. Thomas J, Thomas E, Tomb E; Serum and erythrocyte magnesium concentrations and migraine; Magnes Res 1992 Jun;5(2):127-30. "The findings support the hypothesis of a magnesium deficit in people suffering from migraine and raise the problem of the relationship between migraine and other pathologies, including chronic magnesium deficit, latent tetany due to magnesium deficit, mitral valve prolapse, and allergy." Thomas J, Tomb E, Thomas E, Faure G; Migraine treatment by oral magnesium intake and correction of the irritation of buccofacial and cervical muscles as a side effect of mandibular imbalance; Magnes Res 1994 Jun;7(2):123-7. This study shows that migraine patients have a magnesium deficit, which, while not constant, is a frequent occurrence. Welch KM, Barkley GL, Tepley N, Ramadan NM; Central neurogenic mechanisms of migraine; Neurology 1993 Jun;43(6 Suppl 3):S21-5. This study indicates that low intracellular brain magnesium concentration may be the link between the physiologic threshold for migraine and the attack itself. Welch KM, Barkley GL, Ramadan NM, D'Andrea G; NMR spectroscopic and magnetoencephalographic studies in migraine with aura: support for the spreading depression hypothesis; Pathol Biol (Paris) 1992 Apr;40(4):349-54. "The authors propose that patients who suffer from migraine with aura have a susceptibility to spontaneous neuronal discharges and subsequent spreading depression... hypersusceptibility is supported by increased turnover of high-energy phosphates, low intracellular Mg2+ and large amplitude depolarizing waves on magnetoencephalography."