PCOS Message Board - View Single Post - PCOS and Magnesium for insulin resistance?

counselor · 08-02-2009, 04:45 PM

Exercise Caution with Magnessium Brands

Hey Cysters,
I was just reading the Magnesium Sticky and wanted to alert everyone to the risks of the different brands out there. I have recently read a great post by someone, maybe Kat indicating that supplements aren't regulated by the FDA and may, therefore not be what they claim. About a month ago, I signed up with ConsumerLab.com (CL). I have found it to be a great resource. Recently, CL reviewed magnessium supplements. Peter Gillam's Natural Calm has .295mcg of lead per tspn. The label indicates that dosing anywhere from 1/2 a tspn. to 3 tspns. is appropriate. At 2 tspns. you have exceeded the .5 mcg limit as set by the state of California. Once the .5 mcg limit is exceeded a warning label is required. Personally, I think any lead is unacceptable. I have taken Calm myself, about a year ago, for about 2 months. I loved it for a while, but eventually it made my joints ache and I developed white spots on my fingernails. I have recently seen Calm recommended in many places I consider to be great rsources; such as "First Magazine". I think Gittleman recomended it in her column. I still read and try many ideas I find from the above sources. However, I have found CL to be an invaluable resource. I now only take supplement brands they have tesed and approved. Two other magnesium supplements that didn't pass CL's tests were: Total Nutritrition Natural Amino Acid Chelated Magnesium (only contained 28.8 mg. of mag., instead of the 100 mg claimed), and Tropical Oasis Liquid Calcium Magnesium-Orange Flavored (only contained 45.4% of its labeled magnesium). There are many brands that did pass CL's tests, such as: Solgar, Nutricology, Nature Made, etc. There are too many to list, so you might want to sign up and take a look.
When I signed up, I had only planned to use it during the free trial period. However, I take many (some would say too many) supplements and I have loved it. So, I went ahead and paid to have it. I really love their supplement encyclopedia, also.
I hope this is helpful! I also hope I haven't broken any laws sharing information from a paid site. They won't send you to prison for that, will they (smiling, kind of)?
Sincerely,
Shannon