Lowering Cholesterol with Magnesium

Magnesium helps regulate two key enzymes involved in cholesterol production, and studies suggest that high cholesterol may be linked to magnesium deficiency. In fact, promising new research shows that magnesium may one day serve as a safer alternative to cholesterol-lowering drugs such as the statin Lipitor. In a 2004 study comparing the mineral with statins, magnesium was shown to be more effective.

Supplementing with magnesium can help prevent heart disease in a number of ways—by normalizing the contraction and relaxation rhythm of the heart, reducing blood pressure, and helping to prevent dangerous heart-rhythm abnormalities known as arrhythmias.

Magnesium may also help lower dependence on heart medications known as calcium-channel blockers, says Ron Hunninghake, M.D., medical director of the Bright Spot for Health, a nutritionally oriented medical clinic in Wichita, Kansas. Used for treating high blood pressure and chest pain, these drugs prevent too much calcium from entering heart cells, allowing the heart to relax. Magnesium functions as a natural calcium-channel blocker, says Hunninghake.

"Statin drugs lower LDL-C levels more sharply than do Magnesium supplements, but Magnesium more reliably acts to improve all aspects of dyslipidemia including raising HDL-C and lowering triglycerides, and has the same pleiotropic effects as statins without their adverse effects."
taken from Rosanoff A, Seelig MS. Journal of the American College of Nutrition. 2004 Oct;23(5):501S-5S Comparison of mechanism and functional effects of magnesium and statin pharmaceuticals.

Safety

While the body generally tolerates magnesium well, doses of more than 400 mg can soften stools and may lead to diarrhea (hence the main ingredient in Milk of Magnesia, magnesium hydroxide). Dividing up your dose by taking magnesium supplements two or three times daily might reduce the risk of diarrhea. Also keep in mind that diarrhea is most likely to occur with magnesium oxide, less so with the citrate and glycinate forms.

In addition, because the kidneys excrete excess amounts of magnesium, people with kidney disease should not take high doses of the mineral.

Common types of Magnesium

Magnesium is available in many forms. Common types include magnesium citrate,magnesium gluconate, and magnesium lactate which are more soluble and, therefore, more easily absorbed than magnesium oxide. Other familiar sources of magnesium are magnesium hydroxide (often used as a laxative or antacid) and magnesium sulfate (generally used as a laxative or tonic, or added to a bath). Some magnesium can be absorbed through the skin. Magnesium Chelate and Magnesium Aspartate are very well absorbed. For a heart healthy magnesium we recommend AOR Magnesium Orotate.
It is a good idea to take a B vitamin complex, or a multivitamin containing B vitamins, because the level of vitamin B6 in the body determines how much magnesium will be absorbed into the cells.

 

Articles about Magnesium for lowering cholesterol

Life Extension magazine article about review in Journal of the American College of Nutrition

Comparison of Effects of Magnesium and Statin Pharmaceuticals - Department of