The Magnesium Project

Other Diseases That May Be Influenced By
Cation Regulatory Systems

The following list of diseases or conditions have at least one component that may be attributed to an irregularity in cation metabolism and/or regulation.  To see at least one of the references making the connection click on the disease or condition, continue in your review of the pages on this site.

• Asthma

• Migraines

• Osteoporosis

• Depression

• Other

Diseases/conditions that contribute to lower or higher electrolyte levels in the blood and/or tissue are the following:

Hyper- and Hypo-Phosphatemia

Phosphate is often chemically associated with divalent cations like Ca and Mg.  Thus changes in phosphate levels will potentially alter at least the free activity level of the Ca and Mg ions n the blood.  See also Osteoporosis.

See also cancer and taking of bisphosphonates for bone health, especially if prostate cancer has metastasized into the bone.  Bisphosphonates may also be prescribed for women in menopause to prevent bone loss/osteoporosis.

Acidosis, Alkalosis and Hyperventilation

• pH changes as through the oxygen/carbon dioxide balance will also impact the extent to which Ca and Mg in particular are bound to blood proteins or are free to move across cell boundaries.

• Hyperventilation drives off carbon dioxide which shifts the blood equilibrium more to ... Hydrogen cations compete more effectively for anionic sites on proteins leading to increase in free Ca and Mg.

Hyper- or Hypo-Parathyroidism

Changes in levels of PTH (parathyroid hormone or parathormone)

• Carcinoma of Thyroid/Parathyroid gland - excess in PTH

• Surgical removal of Thyroid/Parathyroids - drop in PTH

• Chemical or radiation treatment directed at thyroid/parathyroid tissues - lowering of PTH

Note that PTH has been found to alter Mg uptake in the kidney?? in a similar manner as it plays a role in calcium regulation.  Note Ca/Mg channels work by ...

Note also that there are a number of pre-cursors to the formation, secretion and activation of PTH.  See for example the system diagram for calcium regulation.

Aldosterone and ACTH

Aldosterone is a hormone that is involved in regulating Na and K levels in the blood.  It thus is potentially linked to levels of other cations including Ca, Mg, and H.  The linkage is especially noted in terms the amount of free ions available which are in a chemical equilibrium with various proteins and other biochemicals.

Analogous conditions of the adrenal (suprarenal) glands that would impact mineralocorticoids (aldosterone et al.) synthesis and Na+/K+ regulation and ACTH (adrenal corticotrophic hormone)

• Analogous conditions of the anterior pituitary gland that may alter hormones levels such as ACTH,  PTH and Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH), et al.

• Analogous conditions of the posterior pituitary gland that may alter levels of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) which in turn influences the salt concentration in the blood.

Genetic conditions that may be pre-disposing to any of the foregoing conditions are yet to be evaluated. For further treatment of genetics see the Genomics pages.

Renin and Angiotension

Renin and angiotension are hormones involved in the regulation of sodium and potassium levels in the blood.  EDIT

Nitric Oxide

Nitric oxide is a transmitter and signaling pathway within smooth muscle.  See Muscle pages.

Osteoporosis

Although decreased bone mineral density (BMD) is the primary feature of osteoporosis, other osteoporotic changes in the collagenous matrix and mineral components of bone may result in bones that are brittle and more susceptible to fracture. Magnesium comprises about 1% of bone mineral and is known to influence both bone matrix and bone mineral metabolism. As the magnesium content of bone mineral decreases, bone crystals become larger and more brittle. Some studies have found lower magnesium content and larger bone crystals in bones of osteoporotic women compared to non-osteoporotic controls (22). Inadequate serum magnesium levels are known to result in low serum calcium levels, resistance to parathyroid hormone, and resistance to some of the effects of vitamin D, all of which can lead to increased bone loss (see Calcium). A recent study of over 900 elderly men and women found higher dietary magnesium intake to be associated with increased bone mineral density at the hip in both men and women. However, because they are present in many of the same foods the effect of dietary magnesium could not be separated from the effect of dietary potassium (23). Few studies have addressed the effect of magnesium supplementation on bone mineral density or osteoporosis in humans. In a small group of postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, magnesium supplementation of 750 mg/day for the first 6 months followed by 250 mg/day months for 18 more months resulted in increased BMD at the wrist after one year, with no further increase after two years of supplementation (24). Another study found that supplementation with 500 mg/day of magnesium and 600 mg/day of calcium in postmenopausal women who were also taking estrogen replacement therapy and a multivitamin resulted in increased bone density at the heel compared to postmenopausal women receiving only estrogen replacement therapy (25). Presently, the potential for increased magnesium intake to influence calcium and bone metabolism warrants more research with particular attention to its role in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.   Copied from the website from Micronutrient Information Center, posted by Jane Higdon, Ph.D. at Oregon State University.

References [under development]

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Revised: January 10, 2012