Magnesium Supplement for Irregular Heart Rhythm

Do you have an irregular heart rhythm? Even preventricular contractions (PVCs) that are not believed to be dangerous can be disconcerting. A person is justified in becoming alarmed over more serious rhythm disruptions. One young man found, after years of suffering, that a magnesium supplement controlled the problem.

What to Do About Irregular Heart Rhythm?

Q. My son started having heart palpitations at age 19. The doctors could find no cause for it. He lived with this constant scary feeling that he could die at any moment.

He went into AFib [atrial fibrillation] twice over the years but was brought out of it. By the time he was forty, he was exhausted from all this. Even the Mayo Clinic found no physical reason for his irregular heart rhythm.

His doctor suggested he try magnesium. My son took supplemental magnesium and was disappointed that it made no difference.

Different Types of Magnesium:

When I looked it up online, I found there are many different types of magnesium. The doctor didn’t tell us that! We found that magnesium taurate is supposed to help heart palpitations. His life changed overnight!

He is now 48 and living a more peaceful life. He recently admitted to me that he even considered suicide – it was such a horrible way to live.

Why Magnesium Is Important:

A. Magnesium is essential for all cells. It is especially important for both muscles and heart health. If levels of this mineral drop too low, people are at higher risk for atrial fibrillation, an irregular heart rhythm. When doctors correct magnesium deficiency, they may also reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease in addition to irregular heart rhythms (Antioxidants, Sep. 23, 2020).

There are indeed many formulations of magnesium. Some, such as magnesium maleate and glycinate, are easier on the digestive tract. People  absorb magnesium taurate quickly and completely (Biological Trace Element Research, Jan. 2019). People with poor kidney function should avoid magnesium supplements, however. They can strain overburdened or underperforming kidneys.

Magnesium Eased Another Arrhythmia:

Q. I used to take verapamil for occasional supraventricular tachycardia. Four years ago I switched to magnesium, alternating 250 mg one day, 500 mg the next.

No more irregular heart rhythm. In addition, I sleep better and have no more constipation. Since I have no prescription insurance, I have saved myself a lot of money!

A. In one study, women who took less than half the RDA for magnesium (which is 320 mg/day) had significantly more supraventricular beats (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, March 2002) on that regimen. Moreover, magnesium can also combat constipation (Nutrients, Feb. 2021). However, the warning about low kidney function applies in this case as well.

Does Magnesium Help With Heart Palpitations? – Cleveland Clinic

If you’re prone to heart palpitations, you know what it’s like. The fluttering. The pounding. The racing. The skipped beats. 

While heart palpitations don’t always mean you need to make a mad dash to the emergency room, you should seek care quick if your heart rate is elevated, if you feel faint or if you’re in pain. 

Otherwise, a skipped beat here and there may be a sign you drank too much caffeine. Or maybe you’re dehydrated after over-indulging at that party last night. 

Or maybe you, like 48% of U.S. adults, should consider getting more magnesium in your life.  

“Magnesium is an electrolyte that helps to regulate your heart rate,” says cardiologist Tamanna Singh, MD. “When you have a deficiency of electrolytes, it can make your heart speed up.” 

We talked with Dr. Singh about the role of magnesium in your heart health and how you can get more magnesium in your diet. 

In order for your heart to keep a steady rhythm, there are a number of factors at play. Put simply, your heartbeat is the result of a precisely choreographed electrical system.  

It goes a little something like this: 

1. Your sinus node sends an electrical signal to the top chambers of your heart (the atria), causing it to contract. 
2. The electrical impulse then moves toward the center of your heart, where it meets with a cluster of cells called the atrioventricular, or AV node. Those cells act like gatekeepers. They slow down the electrical current for a split second. That gives your top chambers a chance to pump before the bottom chambers fire off.  
3. The impulse then moves on to the bottom chambers of your heart (the ventricles). They contract, sending blood all around your body.  
4. Then, the whole thing starts over again. And again. And again. All day every day. 

Magnesium comes into play during that slow-down phase in step two. When it comes to your heart health, magnesium’s job is to properly time the gates in your AV node.  

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Too much magnesium, and the gates move slowly, which can mean your heart will beat more slowly. Too little magnesium and the gates open and close quicker. So, your heart speeds up.  

And, then — voila: heart palpitations. 

“Essentially, magnesium affects how and when electricity moves through your heart,” Dr. Singh says. “So having a magnesium deficiency, which is very common, can cause you to feel like your heart is beating out of sync at times.”  

In addition to its important role in keeping your heart pumping on schedule, magnesium is important for a number of processes throughout your body, like: 

• Regulating your blood sugar.  
• Making protein, bone and DNA.  
• Keeping your muscles and nerves functioning in tip-top shape.  

How much magnesium do you need? 

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) suggests the following recommended dietary allowances for magnesium in adults. Note that recommendations for people who are pregnant will vary from these numbers. 

In addition to heart palpitations, people who have insufficient magnesium levels may notice other symptoms, like: 

• Fatigue.  
• Loss of appetite.  
• Muscle spasms, numbness or tingling.  
• Nausea.  
• Stiffness.  
• Weakness. 

Or you may not have any symptoms at all. 

How to get more magnesium 

First things first: It’s always best to talk to a healthcare provider before making any big changes to your diet or starting a new supplement. If you think you may have a magnesium deficiency, a simple blood test can determine if adding more magnesium is right for you. 

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If you do have a low level of magnesium, a magnesium supplement can be a quick and easy go-to, but popping supplements isn’t always the best answer, Dr. Singh cautions. 

“Oftentimes, it’s in your better interest to change the quality of what you’re eating and try to get nutrients in your foods, rather than supplements,” she says. “There are a lot of common foods that have high levels of magnesium, and they offer other heart-healthy advantages, too, in addition to magnesium. ” 

The NIH suggests these magnesium-rich foods (in order from higher to lower): 

• Pumpkin seeds. 
• Chia seeds. 
• Almonds. 
• Spinach. 
• Cashews. 
• Peanuts. 
• Shredded wheat cereal. 
• Soy milk. 
• Black beans. 
• Edamame. 
• Peanut butter. 
• Baked potatoes (with skins). 
• Brown rice. 
• Low-fat yogurt. 
• Fortified breakfast cereals. 
• Oatmeal. 
• Kidney beans. 
• Bananas. 

Don’t overdo it 

Another reason food is a more reliable source for your magnesium needs is that supplements make it easy to overdo it. And there is such a thing as too much magnesium. 

Research shows that if you get too much magnesium in your diet, it’s excreted by your kidneys and you wind up with magnesium-rich urine. No biggie.  

Too-high levels of magnesium as a result of supplements or medications, however, aren’t as easily removed from your body. And it can have some ugly side effects, like: 

• Cramping. 
• Depression.   
• Diarrhea. 
• Impaired kidney function. 
• Lethargy. 
• Low blood pressure. 
• Muscle weakness. 
• Nausea and vomiting. 

If you and your healthcare provider think a magnesium supplement is the better option for you, just make sure to not exceed the recommended dosage.  

TOP magnesium preparations

We cannot exist without many substances, including micro and macro elements.

Magnesium (Mg, M.) is one of these vital (essential) macronutrients. Mg is found in all structures of the body (an adult has about 25 grams of magnesium), performing many important functions.

The problem is that M. is not synthesized in our body, and among other nutrients it gets there only from the outside, with food and drink. It will not be possible to accumulate it for the future, it is quickly spent and requires constant replenishment, since M. ‘s deficiency adversely affects the state of many organs and systems. Therefore, in the international classification of diseases (ICD-10) there is a diagnosis of “Magnesium deficiency”.

More than 50% of magnesium is found in bone tissue, tooth enamel, as well as in the brain, heart, muscles, liver, kidneys, placenta of a pregnant woman.

Why does the body need magnesium?

M. is involved in the formation of hundreds of enzymes, energy and electrolyte metabolism, is indispensable in the synthesis of protein molecules, affects the course of the vast majority of biochemical reactions in the body, and helps to relax the fibers of the musculature of blood vessels and muscles of internal organs.

M. maintains a normal level of glucose in the blood, helps the absorption of vitamins, controls blood pressure, regulates the exchange of calcium and potassium, ensuring the normal state of the musculoskeletal system, cardiovascular and endocrine systems.

M. protects the body from stress, inhibiting the process of excitation in the central nervous system and reducing dependence on adverse external influences. One of the main functions of the mineral in the body is to provide stress resistance. This is very important: experts have proven that constant stress can cause the development of bronchial asthma, stomach ulcers and other serious diseases, it reduces immunity, “opening the gate” for various infections.

Who is deficient in magnesium?

The daily need for M. women 300-350 milligrams, men – up to 800.

According to medical statistics, about a third of the population is deficient in M. This is due to insufficient intake of the macronutrient with food or its increased excretion from the body. The state when there is not enough M. in the body is called hypomagnesemia.

There are groups of people who have a lack of M. even with a normal level of consumption:

· Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, osteoporosis, epilepsy, atherosclerosis, migraine, cholelithiasis.

Suffering from chronic diarrhea, kidney disease.

· After removal of the thyroid gland.

· Women: pregnant, lactating and menopause.

Adolescents in the period of active growth and hormonal changes.

· Elderly people, 70 years and older.

Professional athletes and people involved in heavy physical labor.

Those who eat a lot of protein (for example, bodybuilders), as well as lovers of fatty foods.

Experiencing frequent stress and emotional tension, including representatives of “nervous” professions: managers, teachers, rescuers, military personnel.

· Children studying in prestigious special schools with high competition and workload.

· Constant sleep deprivation.

· Those who, due to the nature of their work, often fly on an airplane with a change of time zones.

Abuse of caffeine-containing drinks, alcohol, drug users.

· Following strict diets.

Taking certain medications, including diuretics.

Symptoms and effects of magnesium deficiency in the body:

Anxiety, nervousness, irritability, fear, chronic fatigue, cognitive decline.

Hand tremor (tremor), vasospasm, convulsions, headaches, dizziness, fainting, fainting.

· Difficulty in breathing.

Rapid heart rate (tachycardia), numbness and tingling in the arms and legs, and jumps in blood pressure.

· Loss of appetite.

PMS in women with depression, tearfulness, pain in the lower abdomen.

Disturbances in thermoregulation and sweating (“waves of heat” or cold).

In the elderly (and not only), the risk of heart attack, stroke, and blood clots in the vessels increases.

During pregnancy, magnesium is required 2-3 times more than usual, and with its deficiency, the risk of spontaneous abortion and premature birth may increase, normal nutrition and fetal development are disrupted.

A woman suffers from cramps in the calf muscles, increased uterine tone, arterial hypertension.

Symptoms of hypomagnesemia are similar to menopausal syndrome, so women during menopause also require additional intake of magnesium preparations.

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What foods have the most magnesium?

1. Magne-B6 tablets, production Hungary. Contains magnesium lactate dihydrate and pyroxidine (vitamin B6).

The manufacturer recommends the use of a shortage of M., accompanied by increased irritability, anxiety and fatigue, muscle pain and spasms, as well as sleep disorders, in the complex therapy of depression and convulsive conditions. Belongs to the second generation of preparations containing magnesium.

Magne B6 coated tablets 180 pcs.

Manufacturer: Chinoin [Hinoin], Hungary

2.

Magne-B6 forte tablets, production Hungary. Contains magnesium citrate (the magnesium salt of citric acid, the most absorbable form of magnesium) and vitamin B6.

Contains twice as much M. and vitamin B6 as Magne-B6.

Pyridoxine (vitamin B6) is involved in many metabolic processes, improves the absorption of magnesium from the gastrointestinal tract and its penetration into cells.

Magne-B6 Forte film-coated tablets 40 pcs.

Manufacturer: Chinoin [Hinoin], Hungary

3.

Magnelis B6 tablets, production Russia. Contains magnesium lactate (48 mg magnesium) and vitamin B6 (5 mg). An inexpensive domestic drug that replenishes magnesium deficiency in the body. Slower absorption does not irritate the gastric mucosa, the drug is preferable for people with gastrointestinal diseases.

Magnelis B6 coated tablets 50 pcs.

Manufacturer: Pharmstandard-Leksredstva, Russia

4.

Magnesium B6 Evalar , dietary supplement, made in Russia. As part of magnesium aspartate (magnesium salt of aspartic acid) and vitamin B6. Magnesium supports cellular immunity. For 10 minutes of stress, the daily supply of M. is lost, the drug quickly replenishes the resulting deficit.

Magnesium B6 Evalar tablets 60 pcs.

Manufacturer: Curtis Health Caps, Russia

5.

Calcium Magnesium Zinc Solgar

, USA made. Biologically active additive of complex action. Contains calcium in the form (carbonate, gluconate, citrate), magnesium (oxide, citrate and magnesium gluconate), zinc (zinc gluconate). Calcium is necessary for the formation of bone tissue, zinc maintains it in a healthy state, is involved in the synthesis of collagen. Calcium together with magnesium ensure the normal functioning of muscles and the nervous system. Magnesium helps to improve calcium absorption and distribution in bone tissue. Taking dietary supplements helps prevent osteoporosis.

Solgar Calcium-magnesium-zinc tablets 100 pcs. (BAA)

Manufacturer: Solgar [Solgar], USA

6.

Anti-Age magnesium chelate tablets Evalar, made in Russia.

Contains magnesium amino acid chelate (magnesium bisglycinate). The modern, easily digestible (90% bioavailability) form of magnesium, which is closest to the composition of the body, does not change the acidity of the stomach and does not irritate it. Increases stress resistance, supports the nervous system, provides healthy sleep. Slows down the aging of the body.

Magnesium chelate Anti-Age tablets 60 pcs. Evalar (BAA)

Manufacturer: Evalar, Russia

7. Doppelgerz asset Magnesium citrate, made in Germany. The dietary supplement contains 100% of the daily dose of magnesium (400 mg) in the form of magnesium citrate, vitamins C, B6 and B2, which increases the body’s immune defenses, supports the central nervous system. Magnesium citrate is useful for people suffering from constipation. The drug is rapidly absorbed in the stomach and begins to act.

Doppelgerz active Magnesium citrate tablets 150 mg 1500 mg 30 pcs. (BAA)

Producer: Queisser Pharma [Quaysser Pharma], Germany

8. Magnesium Diasporal 300 granules, made in Germany. Contains magnesium citrate. It has a mild laxative effect. Recommended for increased irritability, gastrointestinal spasms, pain, spasms and tingling in the muscles.

Magnesium Diasporal 300 granules for oral solution sachets 5 g 20 pcs.

Manufacturer: Protina Pharmazeutische [Protina Pharmazeutishe], Germany

9. Magnerot tablets 500 mg, made in Germany. Contains magnesium orotate dihydrate, which is absorbed in the body in various ways: part enters the bloodstream, approximately 30% binds to blood plasma proteins, prolonging the stay of the drug in the blood, up to 15% enters the bone tissue or intracellular spaces, entering into combination with other biologically active substances. It is recommended for heart failure and arrhythmia caused by M. deficiency, prevents the development of atherosclerosis.

Magnerot tablets 500 mg 100 pcs.

Manufacturer: Mauermann-Artsnaimittel Franz Mauermann OCG, Germany

10. Magnemax tablets 500 mg, production Russia. Contains magnesium orotate dihydrate and orotic acid (vitamin-like substance B13) to promote energy synthesis and rapid recovery after exercise.

Magnemax tablets 500 mg 20 pcs.

Manufacturer: Obolenskoye FP, Russia

Bibliography:

https://internist. ru/publications/detail/sovremennye-podhody-k-vospolneniyu-deficita-magniya-u-zhenschin.-mezhevitinova-e.a./#:~:text=Magnesium%20%20%20 is synthesized in%20 of the body., heart%2C%20muscle%2C%20kidney%2C%20liver%2C%20placenta)

https://mc21.ru/blog/magniy-glavnyy-antistressovyy-makroelement/

https://magneb6.ru/magne-b6/

https://gorzdrav.org/blog/kak-raspoznat-deficit-magnija/#:~:text=Magnesium%20increases%20resistance%20%to%20stress., internal%20organs%20and%20other%20tissues

http://12.rospotrebnadzor.ru/directions/saninspection/food_quality/-/asset_publisher/Ep0i/content/role-of-magnesium-in-the-human-organism

https://medvestnik.ru/content/medarticles/Magnii-i-stressoustoichivost.html

https://www.msdmanuals.com/en/home/hormonal-and-metabolic-disorders/electrolyte-balance/general-information-about-the-role-of-magnesium-in-the-body

https://www.lvrach.ru/2015/03/15436184

Magnesium – the best helper of the cardiovascular system

November 19, 2013
17:33

photo: Global Look Press

Magnesium plays a major role in cardiovascular health. We decided to figure out how this “anti-stress” trace element works.

The cardiovascular system is one of the most important in our body. Blood rushes to all internal organs, transporting oxygen and nutrients, and also removes all pathogens and harmful substances. The heart and blood vessels need to be helped daily. To do this, you need to constantly supply the body with vitamins and minerals.

Magnesium is one of the most important elements for cardiovascular health. Therefore, it is necessary to take daily special preparations for the heart, which include magnesium.

Magnesium deficiency can lead to various diseases and disorders, including type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease and hypertension (in other words, high blood pressure), and premenstrual syndrome.

Magnesium is a key component of over 300 enzymes involved in the body’s energy processes. The heart, the system of blood vessels and muscles are the most energy-intensive structures of our body and that is why preparations containing magnesium are necessary for their normal functioning.

At the same time, one should not forget that it is impossible to be treated with magnesium alone. It helps in the prevention of diseases of the cardiovascular system, reducing the risk of heart attacks, hypertension and other disorders. But if the doctor has already identified the problem, then he will advise taking special medications and complexes with magnesium can only be an addition to the main therapy.

Many have heard about the benefits of this element for the cardiovascular system before. A large-scale clinical study involving two thousand volunteers showed that magnesium helps protect against the development of type 2 diabetes. This element lowers blood sugar levels and helps control insulin sensitivity.

One of the experiments conducted by doctors from Maryland proved that in some cases magnesium helps fight chronic or temporary hair loss.

Magnesium deficiency is also most commonly seen in people who suffer from persistent migraines and unexplained headaches and experience chronic stress. As it turned out, a daily dose of magnesium will help not only reduce or completely get rid of migraine attacks, but also reduce their duration and strength.

A clinical study involving 10 patients showed that magnesium helps in the fight against the so-called restless legs syndrome – a disease in which there are unpleasant sensations in the legs, especially when lying down, as well as the insomnia that often accompanies it.

Even a small deficiency of this element in the body also affects health. Fatigue, irritability, loss of appetite or immoderate appetite, a constant tendency to catch colds are all signs of a lack of magnesium.

As a consequence, magnesium deficiency can lead to serious disorders of the cardiovascular system: heart palpitations, heart attacks, strokes, deep vein thrombosis.

To avoid serious consequences, it is worth eating nuts more often, because pine nuts, walnuts and almonds contain a large amount of this heart-healthy element.

But even if you’re allergic or don’t like one of these foods, don’t despair.