Magnesium - "The Missing Mineral"
Inside the cells, normally, ATP energy produced by cell mitochondria is used to power the calcium pumps (Ca2+ATPase) that transport Ca++ ions across the plasma membrane to maintain an extracellular calcium concentration ~10,000 times greater than inside cells (Magnesium concentration inside cells ~10,000 times greater than the calcium concentration) - impaired cell membranes or low ATP production (due to lack of Mg for the enzymes required for ATP production or any other reason) means there is insufficient power to pump out the Ca++ ions and calcium accumulates inside the cell, preventing the cell from maintaining its normal calcium gradient. In this event, intracellular calcium increases (a benchmark at the time of death) and there is a relative deficiency of magnesium.If anyone is seriously ill, this deficit must be addressed with magnesium supplementation, noting that most oral forms are poorly absorbed.
Outside the cells, Mg keeps calcium dissolved. Calcium intake without sufficient magnesium encourages soft tissue calcification, since the higher the calcium level and the lower the magnesium level in the extra-cellular fluid, the harder is it for cells to pump the calcium out.
Extra-skeletal calcification. Beneficial calcification involves calcium and phosphorus and is a normal process for building healthy bones and teeth. As the ratio of Mg to Ca decreases inside cells (which happens as we age and with lower ATP energy production), calcium that is supposed to be deposited in your bones and teeth tends to accumulate in soft tissues (where there should not be calcification), and where it can cause many health issues, such as strokes, heart attacks and muscle spasms.
Unable to remove calcium from cells, abnormal calcium accumulations (calcifications) build up in soft tissues, and cell membranes become rigid. This affects cell transport systems, further decreasing Mg transport and other nutrients, with significant adverse effects in the body:
• Negatively affects detoxification systems, antioxidant systems and glucose metabolism
• Lowers cellular energy production
• Nervous system excitation
• Muscle rigidity or spasms. As we age, more and more calcium remains trapped in the muscles and these become more or less permanently contracted, leading to increasing muscle tension and spasms;
• CVD / Stroke / Hypertension / Heart attack/Vascular degeneration. As a consequence of contracting/constricting blood vessels and hardening/rigidity of the arteries when calcium deposits in artery walls (arteriosclerosis). This in turn leads to restricted blood flow causing high blood pressure and inelastic vessels, which may easily rupture causing strokes. Calcium is a component of arterial lesions and is of course involved in calcification in heart valve. Countries with the highest calcium to magnesium ratios in soil and water have the highest incidence of cardiovascular disease (Australia tops the list).
• Osteoporosis
• Cancer
• Wrinkled skin
• Calcification of soft tissue
• Arthritis - in the joints and connective tissue
• Muscle / Joint inflexibility -contributes to arthritic deformations in later years
• Fibromyalgia
• Migraine - excess calcium can stimulate muscular layer cells of temporal arteries over the temples causing migraine;
• Asthma -excess calcium constricts the smooth muscle surrounding the small airways of the lung, causing restricted breathing and asthma;
• Bone spurs - from abnormal calcium crystals in bones;
• Fusions in skeletal components (E.g. vertebrae);
• Kidney stones
• High blood calcium
• GI tract disorders
• Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS);
• Dental problems - cavities
• Cataracts
• Senility from calcification of neurons in brain;
• Depression and other mood disorders
• VLDL triglyceride increase
• General mineral imbalances. incl. magnesium, zinc, iron and phosphorus;
• Interfere with vitamin D activity -which has many health-protecting functions (especially important in cancer prevention)
• Acceleration of aging process
