PCOS and Magnesium for insulin resistance? - Page 4

indiancyster · 05-04-2009, 06:59 PM

I just wanted to add my two cents...I recently started taking a powder supplement recommended to me by the holistic fertility center I go to...the supplement consists mainly of magnesium (with some citric acid or something like that maybe for flavor, not sure)...but the main ingredient is definitely magnesium. A week after I started taking it, I ovulated (and I only ovulate by myself in about half of my cycles). They had told me that this had worked for women who have never ovulated by themselves...but I thought, yeah right. Now I'm a believer!

carrottop · 05-05-2009, 06:12 PM

According to my DH:

I haven't studied Mg a lot myself, but based on what I found in the nutrition books in my office, this may actually have some merit. The Ca : Mg balance issue has definitely been shown to cause many negative effects in many species. Mg therapy has also been shown repeatedly to reduce various cardiovascular problems in humans. Additionally, Mildred Seelig (cited in the article) definitely appears to be a human Mg research guru. She was publishing lit reviews on the subject as early as 1964.

I'm not sure about the claims about Mg decreasing LDL and increasing HDL, or at least I couldn't find anything to specifically back it up. However, nutritionists have known for some time (as I've probably told you before) that there is an as yet undetermined intermediary metabolite that determines whether a dietary triglyceride (storage form of fat from diet) is converted to LDL or HDL. It could very well be a mineral like Mg. However, based on the fact that B vitamins act as cofactors/gatekeepers for just about every other metabolic pathway, my money would be on one of them. Regardless, if Mg were as effective as they make out in this article, I doubt Lipitor/Crestor, etc. sales would be as good as they are, unless the medical field and the pharmaceutical industry were involved in a massive conspiracy to supress this info (which actually wouldn't surprise me considering the apparent rep/Dr. kickback system).

Also, I'm not sure about the direct links between Mg deficiency and insulin resistance. However, I did find that diabetics are typically Mg deficient. The unknown (on my part) is whether this is due to dietary Mg deficiency = insulin resistance, which in time=type II diabetes, or if diabetics just have a higher Mg requirement due to increased use in some alternate metabolic pathway that's necessary due to the inefficiency of glucose metabolism. Unfortunately I don't have time to dig that deep at the moment.

PCOSurvivor · 06-16-2009, 03:19 PM

Wow, I new to this site and it's such a rich resource of information from women. The power of women sharing information is overwhelming to me.

Each post is helpful. I particularly love the referral for books. Thanks.

I came to taking magnesium through a book -
The Everything Health Guide to PMS By Dagmara Scalise

In it, magnesium was suggested to help relieve PMS symptoms. I find it is VERY helpful in reducing my anxiety and crying spells. I notice a huge difference when I get off of it.

I take 300 mg -1 small pill a day. I'm wondering if I should increase it. The connections with helping IR is exciting and worthy of trying it.

Thanks for the posts. I am not alone. I am encouraged.

herbsgirl · 07-07-2009, 10:43 PM

I have been on Natural Calm magnesium powder for a while, and it is helping me.... sleep! I mix up 3 tsp or so when I am getting ready for bed, then I drink it right before I go to sleep. I go to sleep faster and sleep deeper and better with it, than I used to. It definatly helps!!!

Tikki · 07-11-2009, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PCOSurvivor

Wow, I new to this site and it's such a rich resource of information from women. The power of women sharing information is overwhelming to me.

Each post is helpful. I particularly love the referral for books. Thanks.

I came to taking magnesium through a book -
The Everything Health Guide to PMS By Dagmara Scalise

In it, magnesium was suggested to help relieve PMS symptoms. I find it is VERY helpful in reducing my anxiety and crying spells. I notice a huge difference when I get off of it.

I take 300 mg -1 small pill a day. I'm wondering if I should increase it. The connections with helping IR is exciting and worthy of trying it.

Thanks for the posts. I am not alone. I am encouraged.

Just becareful with increasing. --This can make you go to the bathroom alot!

I love my Magnesium baths, and other supplements, I feel like a new person. I've been getting AF nearly regular now! but I really need to remember to take it everyday.

capecoral28 · 07-17-2009, 02:43 AM

I have been on Magnesium for a two week now...I will let you know if anything changes.

redrose05 · 07-23-2009, 09:39 AM

Could you get more magnesium by adding food to your diet rather than taking supplements. Was reading this somewhere

"The recommended intake of magnesium for women between the ages of 30 and over 70 years is 320mg a day — an amount which, provided you have a healthy diet, is easy to achieve. Good sources of magnesium include nuts and seeds such as peanuts, almonds and cashews, and flaxseeds, pepitas, sesame seeds and wholegrains including oats, barley, millet, muesli and quinoa, oat and wheat bran, green leafy vegetables and beans. "

Might try and add more of these foods, see if it makes a difference

Patah83 · 07-27-2009, 12:32 PM

I am taking a magnesium citrate by solgar because it supposed to have more absorbency but the article recommended a chelated form. I am taking 600 mg per day or 3 pills a day with food. If you are taking or started a magnesium what form are you taking, brand, and how much?

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

Patah83 · 08-03-2009, 02:15 AM

I love my Solgar! Thanks for the update!

MommyDreams08 · 08-27-2009, 05:31 PM

I just brought some Nature Made Magnesium today, I hope it works for me!

Pearl1981 · 09-09-2009, 10:54 AM

But if we are also vitamin D deficient we may not be absorbing the calcium we need any way so calcium supplements may not be of harm....

remember one vitamin deficiency commonly affects another group of vitamins...

What do you all think ?

Patah83 · 09-11-2009, 01:30 AM

My calcium levels were good when I had bloodwork done but I only had low Vitamin D, but I drink soy so I am getting calcium supplementation there in addition to actual pill supplements.

DLS_RN · 09-13-2009, 08:14 PM

i have been taking a calcium and magnseium blend for months (for headaches and anxiety) and I hadn't heard that mag has some effects on PCOS. Maybe I'll try increasing the amount of mag I take. I'm also looking into other natural things to conceive...would rather NOT go the clomid and metformin route unless we HAVE to.

Cravens99 · 10-05-2009, 03:58 AM

I tried the Magnesium Foot Soak - peaked my interest and now I've stumbled upon this thread. Thank you for all of your hard facts in research!

Another great excuse for me to use my local spa in Portland.

At DragonTree here is what they have to say:
"This wondrous mineral is vital in energy production, muscle function, blood pressure regulation, bowel movement, bone building, heart health, and more. Magnesium can be both relaxing and energizing, and many women find it useful for PMS. Studies show magnesium can be effectively absorbed through the skin."