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Willner Chemists: The Nutritional Supplement Professionals
Does Magnesium Act like a Statin?
Every metabolic activity in the body depends on enzymes.
Making cholesterol, for example, requires a specific enzyme
called HMG-CoA reductase. As it turns out, magnesium slows
down this enzymatic reaction when it is present in sufficient
quantities. HMG-CoA reductase is the same enzyme that statin
drugs target and inhibit. The mechanisms are nearly the same;
however, magnesium is the natural way that the body has
evolved to control cholesterol when it reaches a certain level,
whereas statin drugs are used to destroy the whole process.
This means that if sufficient magnesium is present in the
body, cholesterol will be limited to its necessary functions - the
production of hormones and the maintenance of membranes -
and will not be produced in excess.
It’s only in our present-day circumstances of magnesium
deficient soil, little magnesium in processed foods, and
excessive intake of calcium and calcium-rich foods without
supplementation of magnesium that cholesterol has become
elevated in the population. If there is not enough magnesium
to limit the activity of the cholesterol-converting enzyme, we
are bound to make more cholesterol than is needed.
The magnesium/cholesterol story gets even better.
Magnesium is responsible for several other lipid-altering
functions that are not even shared by statin drugs. Magnesium
is necessary for the activity of an enzyme that lowers LDL, the
“bad” cholesterol; it also lowers triglycerides and raises the
“good” cholesterol, HDL. Another magnesium-dependent
enzyme converts omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids
into prosta glandins, which are necessary for heart and overall
health.
Seelig and Rosanoff conclude their paper by saying that it is
well accepted that magnesium is a natural calcium channel
blocker, and now we know it also acts like a natural statin. In
their book The Magnesium Factor, Seelig and Rosanoff
reported that eighteen human studies verified that magnesium
supplements can have an extremely beneficial effect on lipids.
In these studies, total cholesterol levels were reduced by 6 to
23 percent; LDL (bad) cholesterol were lowered by 10 to 18
percent; tryglycerides fell by 10 to 42 percent; and HDL
(good) cholesterol rose by 4 to 11 percent. Furthermore, the
studies showed that low magnesium levels are associated with
higher levels of “bad” cholesterol and high magnesium levels
indicate an increase in “good” cholesterol.
McCully was the first researcher, back in 1969, to identify a
condition of increased levels of an amino acid, homocysteine,
in the urine of patients with heart disease, which could be
reversed with certain nutrients.2,3
Homocysteine is a normal by-product of protein digestion,
which in elevated amounts causes the oxidization of
cholesterol—and it is oxidized cholesterol that damages blood
vessels. For certain individuals who lack specific enzymes for
protein digestion, homocysteine can become a real problem.
A healthy level of homocysteine is below 12 μmol/L.
Homocysteine levels greater than 12 μmol/L are considered
high, and when homocysteine is elevated in the cell,
magnesium measures low. Twenty to 40 percent of the general
population have elevated levels of homocysteine. Individuals
with high levels have almost four times the risk of suffering a
heart attack compared to people with normal levels.16
Elevated homocysteine is high on the list of risk factors for
heart disease and serves as an even stronger marker than high
cholesterol for heart disease and blood clotting disorders.5,6
The more relevant marker may be low magnesium since the
major enzymes involved in homocysteine metabolism are
magnesium-dependent.7 McCully blames too much protein in
the diet for elevated homocysteine. However, when
magnesium, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, and folic acid are
deficient, the body is not able to properly digest protein. The
B vitamins were readily available in the typical diet a hundred
years ago; now that they’re absent from the diet,
homocysteine becomes elevated and heart disease results.
When these metabolic nutrients are reintroduced through
diet or supplements, the high homocysteine levels are reversed
and the symptoms of heart disease diminish. Ongoing research
confirms that B6, B12, and folic acid together with magnesium
are necessary to prevent blood vessel damage induced by high
levels of homocysteine in the blood.8 In short, the successful
treatment of homocysteinuria relies on dietary changes that
include B vitamins and magnesium.9,10,11 However,
magnesium is often left out of the prescription for
homocysteinuria in favor of the B vitamins—a common but
serious error on the part of conventional medicine.
It must be remembered that high homocysteine is also a
marker for all causes of mortality, which underscores that a
deficiency in essential nutrients has a far-reaching effect on the
body far beyond heart disease.12
Medical Disclaimer:
The ideas, procedures and suggestions contained in this
article are not intended as a substitute for consulting with your
physician. All matters regarding your physical health require
medical supervision. Neither the author nor the publisher shall
be liable or responsible for any loss, injury or damage allegedly
arising from any information or suggestion in this article.
References:
1. Rosanoff A, Seelig MS, “Comparison of mechanism and
functional effects of magnesium and statin pharmaceuticals.” J
Am Coll Nutr, vol. 23, no. 5, pp. 501S–505S, 2004.
2. McCully KS, “Homocysteine, folate, vitamin B6, and
cardiovascular disease.” JAMA, vol. 279, no. 5, pp. 392–393,
1998.
3. McCully KS, “Vascular pathology of homocysteinemia:
implications for the pathogenesis of arteriosclerosis.” Am J
Pathol, vol. 56, no. 1, pp. 111–128, 1969.
4. Eikelboom JW et al., “Preventive cardiology and
therapeutics program.” Ann Intern Med, vol. 131, no. 5, pp.
363–375, 1999.
5. Boushey CJ et al., “A quantitative assessment of plasma
homocysteine as a risk factor for vascular disease. Probable
benefits of increasing folic acid intakes.” JAMA, vol. 274, no.
13, pp. 1049–1057, 1995.
6. Confalonieri M et al., “Heterozygosity for homocysteinuria:
a detectable and reversible risk factor for pulmonary
thromboembolism.” Monaldi Arch Chest Disease, vol. 50, no.
2, pp. 114–115, 1995.
7. Altura B, Altura B, “Magnesium: the forgotten mineral in
cardiovascular health and disease.” A Gem Lecture at SUNY
Downstate. Alumni Today, pp. 11–22, spring 2001.
8. Li W et al., “Extracellular magnesium regulates effects of
vitamin B6, B12 and folate on homocysteinemia-induced
depletion of intracellular free magnesium ions in canine
cerebral vascular smooth muscle cells: possible relationship to
[Ca2+]i, atherogenesis and stroke.” Neurosci Lett, vol. 274, no.
2, pp. 83–86, 1999.
9. Shamsuddin AM, “Inositol phosphates have novel anti-
cancer function.” Journal of Nutrition, vol. 125 (suppl.), pp.
725S–732S, Review 1995.
10. Rowley KG et al., “Improvements in circulating
cholesterol, antioxidants, and homocysteine after dietary
intervention in an Australian Aboriginal community.” Am J Clin
Nutr, vol. 74, no. 4, pp. 442–448, 2001.
11. Tice JA et al., “Cost-effectiveness of vitamin therapy to
lower plasma homocysteine levels for the prevention of
coronary heart disease: effect of grain fortification and
beyond.” AMA, vol. 286, no. 8, pp. 936–943, 2001.
12. Vollset SE et al., “Plasma total homocysteine and
cardiovascular and noncardiovascular mortality: the Hordaland
Homocysteine Study.” Am J Clin Nutr, vol. 74, no. 1, pp. 130–
136, 2001.
An excerpt from “Cholesterol Myths – Interview With Carolyn
Dean, MD, ND.” Nutritional Magnesium Association
(
.
A
well-known magnesium proponent, Mildred Seeling, M.D., just before she died in
2004, wrote a fascinating paper with Andrea Rosanoff, Ph.D., showing that
magnesium acts by the same mechanisms as statin drugs to lower cholesterol.
The pharmacists and nutritionists at
Willner Chemists will be happy to
advise you about appropriate
supplementation.
The Willner Chemists web site is a
valuable resource for information on
nutritional supplements...
how to choose them,
and how to use them.
. . . and remember to visit Don’s Blog
