Vit D and magnesium?

I'm sure I read somewhere that you should take magnesium with vitD but have no idea how much, or even whether it really is necessary. Can anyone advise please?

[Hidden]

Hi, Here's what Dr. Nathan says about magnesium.

" When our bodies are deficient in it we see fatigue, depression, malaise, muscle cramps and pain, and difficulties with focus, memory and concentration........ Some of the major symptoms of magnesium deficiency are: fatigue; exhaustion; tiredness; muscle cramps; spasm; pain; muscle weakness; manual treatments like chiropractic, physio etc. do not hold more than a few hours; depression; cardiac arrhythmias; cognitive impairment; insomnia. Most doctors don't know how to measure it accurately. Magnesium is usually found inside the blood cells, not in the blood stream....... The body thinks that magnesium is so important that it will do everything in its power to keep blood levels normal. Thus you could have a perfectly normal blood test result and still have low magnesium levels inside your cells.......Our bodies have a limited capacity to absorb magnesium from the intestines.

When that capacity is exceeded we get the one symptom that too much magnesium produces - diarrhea.

All magnesium formulas are not created equal. Most magnesium you buy over the counter is entirely or mostly composed of magnesium oxide because it is inexpensive to manufacture......this form of magnesium is not well absorbed by the body. Only 10% of this form of magnesium is actually absorbed"

It is a very important but often forgotten mineral, yet it is crucial for both heart and hormone health.

Jane x

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thanks very much Jane. It certainly sounds important...and covers most of my symptoms....but then so do a heap of other things! I can easily convince myself I'm deficient in every known vitamin and mineral. How on earth do you set about finding out what is really essential when the tests are so unreliable??

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

As far as magnesium goes Dr. Nathan suggests that you will soon know if you've taken too much as you will get diarrhea. I would love to know how the present RDA for all vitamins/minerals were set. It is a minefield as you also have to consider the best form of each to take. x

[Heloise]

It may be because vitamind d can raise calcium levels, but personally a combo of K2 with vitamin D is probably more important. Magnesium is also very important for hypothyroids since the adrenals use up a huge proportion of magnesium.

[Hidden in reply to Heloise]

Thanks Heloise. Can you recommend any articles or a website dealing with K2?

[PinkNinja in reply to Hidden]

Fermented vegetables, such as sauerkraut, are very good for vitamin k2. Also good for detoxing the system of nasties and heavy metals, apparently.

You can buy vitamin k over the counter. It is needed for the body to use vitamin D and helps to avoid toxicosis.

I'm afraid I don't currently have any articles to hand (im away with family) but I seem to remember Dr mercola writing an article on his website recently which you might find interesting.

Sorry I couldn't be more help.

Carolyn x

[Heloise in reply to Hidden]

Being low in D vitamin, I started noticing that most supplements of D3 were adding K2 to the formula. I've read many articles about K2 since then and it has to with making certain the calcium is helping bones and teeth rather than arteries. At the lower part of this article, he talks about that. chriskresser.com/vitamin-k2...

[Jackie]

Hi Safe to take lots of magnesium in food. However, if on a supplement needs to be under a doctor with lots of blood tests, a tiny range and an electrolyte.Strongly effects Potassium, even more dangerous.

Vit D should be under an Endo if possible ,otherwise GP. if tests low then a corrected calcium test , Calcium must always be in range, an electrolyte. D for life, normally unless calcium goes over range. re test 4 months after starting D, both, it takes that long

Jackie.

[Hidden in reply to Jackie]

That sounds rather alarming! What does "a tiny range and an electrolyte" mean please? No chance at my surgery of "lots of blood tests".

[Jackie in reply to Hidden]

Hi A tiny range for magnesium means, even a little bit of a supplement can make the magnesium out of range. it is just a very narrow margin.Electrolytes, are what controls the heart and kidneys, and a few other things. if out they can cause renal failure, coma or death, even in healthy people, Also any age, can cause cardiac arrests, main cause of sudden death is Potassium. that is the wore culprit Even some Cardiacs do not know thus!The important ones are. potassium and sodium measured in U`s and E`s, kidney function but use for lots of things, also magnesium, separate test cheap and common Also Calcium which must always be in range. It is the corrected calcium of the 2 figures that matters. Vit D a hormone, and other things strongly effect the calcium. usually makes it dangerously high, however, if calcium below range, you often need treatment with calcium and vit D ( NICE) why it should always be under an Endo, failing that a GP, who does not really know enough!

No blood tests are brilliant, but the best that we have. So far, kept me alive and able to adjust my complicated cardiac drugs d

Best wishes,

Jackie

[Hidden in reply to Jackie]

Thanks Jackie - but if it's as dangerous as you suggest it sounds like a non-starter.

[Jackie in reply to Hidden]

Hi Vit D is important with the correct tests as not in much food. magnesium is in so much food and that is totally safe taken that way.

Best wishes,

Jackie

[Hidden in reply to Jackie]

Thanks Jackie - glad you're finding your way through this minefield!

[Jackie in reply to Hidden]

Not easy is it, especially with a lot of ignorant docs about!

Jackie

[Hidden]

Sadly most of us are low in Vitamin D and Magnesium and allsorts (not licorice, er.. OK maybe it helps some with adrenal probs!) other vitamins/minerals too notable irons and B12 - a sherlock sense (yes I watched tv for a change) now points to all this 'crap' starting in the gut.. hmm...

Meanwhile - when I found I was low in Vit D I got myself some Mg spray and epsom salts. (Have you had a vit D test?)

The more you read the more you realise things are not in isolation, they work together, and K2 in brie/gouda - goodness knows I have a ton(ne) of cheese at the moment and family are complaining of the smell - ha! what smell! another 'tick' for me - no sense of smell! also nappies no problem (occasional use only).

So... If you don't want to eat a trawler full of fish, you will need to supplement. J x

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for this - it made me smile...and that's rare these days!

Yes, I've been tested a couple of times and started supplementing with D3 about a year ago, then a test showed me over the holy reference range at 157 nmol/L so GP insisted I stop taking it (bone profile was fine). I didn't stop, but reduced the dose and, hey presto, another couple of months later I began to wonder why all my aches and pains, low mood etc. had returned....duh! Managed to talk her into another test, which she was satisfied with but I most certainly wasn't at 101nmol/L. I now understand the optimal level is 125 -175, so no wonder I was feeling better at 157!

Sadly, I'm not a great cheese lover, plus it's the one thing guaranteed to pile on the lbs, so I'm obviously going to have to supplement. I do get nervous though about interactions and nasties I'm ignorant about (see Jackie's reply above).

Sx

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I test regularly too, but stopped D3 over the Summer (I was over 100 too & felt great!) pain & SAD back by Sept. Vit D helps gut absorb calcium, so yes both increase but Mg and K2 help put calc where it's needed (my take on what I've read anyway) I thought Mg is excreted if too much? (dose of salts) why I prefer a half hour epsom bath. Again it all works together, so a good multivit and/or b complex probably helps as we tend to be low in most, as everything slows down including digestion/absorption.

Personally I think docs ignore/don't know much about VitD - seems reps don't sell it or give free CPD training or spa days etc. no funding points for rickets/osteomalcia/osteoporosis? (sorry bit cynical there). J (solar powered)

[Marylyn in reply to Hidden]

If you have lost your smell you could be b12 deficient.Sadly most drs don't treat b12 until its so low that nerve damage has already occurred.only a diligent dr will pick it up.I had night tremors,ringing in ears,pins& needles in hands,headache,breathlessness all symptons of B12.finally after 6 mths I Commeced treatment .I am Vit d deficient as well.

[Hidden in reply to Marylyn]

Thanks Marylyn, I was thinking along the same lines and have had both sorts of B12 test (normal) - however I was supplementing a bit before I got tested so could skew result a bit - I had, all those symptoms except headache, fuzzy head yes. And I know that supplementing VitD has made life so much more bearable! I hope you are feeling better soon J

[sarahstevenson]

Thanks for posting Sue, I need to understand this better too. The endo says I am optimal and when I queried minerals has said GP can test Magnesium and calcium to 'reassure 'me. She has doubled my Vit D, and has said to try cutting out current ferrous Gluconate, have slowly climbed from a ferritin of 5 to 70 after 2 years of supplementing. Apparently I shouldn't be asking her as my bloods are 'fine'on30 mcg T3 and so I am no longer her patient. Thinking everyone needs to learn more

[Hidden in reply to sarahstevenson]

Yes indeed...and it's clear there's little or no help on offer from the NHS with regard to nutrition and supplements. I even consulted a highly recommended nutritionist who also seemed fairly ignorant when it came to the special requirements of hypos.