Importance of calcium/magnesium/parathyroid in hypertension

[jfh]

About 25 years ago, David McCarron noticed that the governments data on diet and hypertension showed that the people who ate the most salt had the lowest blood pressure, and those who ate the least salt had the highest pressure. He showed that a calcium deficiency, rather than a sodium excess, was the most likely nutritional explanation for hypertension.

References:

Hypertension 1986 Jun;8(6):497-505. Effects of calcium infusion on blood pressure in hypertensive and normotensive humans. Ellison DH, Shneidman R, Morris C, McCarron DA. Together, these data provide evidence for interactions between dietary sodium intake and the cardiovascular response to calcium. They confirm that hypertensive subjects exhibit enhanced parathyroid gland function even when dietary factors are controlled, and they suggest that these subjects are more sensitive to the cardiovascular effects of short-term calcium infusion.

Hypertension 1980 Mar-Apr;2(2):162-8. Enhanced parathyroid function in essential hypertension: a homeostatic response to a urinary calcium leak. McCarron DA, Pingree PA, Rubin RJ, Gaucher SM, Molitch M, Krutzik S. Recent reports . . . suggest that increased parathyroid gland function may be one of the more common endocrine disturbances associated with hypertension. Compared to a second age- and sex-matched normotensive population, the hypertensives demonstrated a significant (p less than 0.005) relative hypercalciuria. For any level of urinary sodium, hypertensives excreted more calcium. These preliminary data suggest that parathyroid gland function may be enhanced in essential hypertension.

https://raypeat.com/articles/articles/calcium.shtml

Magnesium is a mineral that is critical for energy production and metabolism, muscle contraction, nerve impulse transmission and bone mineralization. It is required cofactor for an estimated 300 enzymes. Among the reactions catalyzed by these enzymes are fatty acid synthesis, protein synthesis and glucose metabolism. Magnesium status is also important for regulation of calcium balance through its effects on the parathyroid gland.

[pinballdoctor]

Originally Posted by jfh

Magnesium is a mineral that is critical for energy production and metabolism, muscle contraction, nerve impulse transmission and bone mineralization. It is required cofactor for an estimated 300 enzymes. Among the reactions catalyzed by these enzymes are fatty acid synthesis, protein synthesis and glucose metabolism. Magnesium status is also important for regulation of calcium balance through its effects on the parathyroid gland.

Magnesium is a very important mineral indeed.

Most people realize that magnesium "balances" calcium, and that potassium "balances" sodium, and antioxidants "balance" iron.

However, magnesium is one piece of a 90 piece puzzle, and the complete picture can't be revealed until the puzzle is complete. Therefore, all 90 pieces are needed because they work together, and being deficient in any one of these 90 will result in health issues.

All vitamins and minerals are important, and must be supplied in such a way that the body can absorb them.

[jfh]

I know you are correct PBD. I have a great book, called "Minerals for Health". I got it a long time ago. It is still current.

I used to take a mineral supplement, but now I count on my multi-vit. I am worried about taking too much of 2 minerals. I don't want to take more the 200mcg of selenium. I know that 400 is OK, but I figure that I get more from diet. Then, I don't want to take more than 30mg of zinc. I know that 50 is OK, but I would not want to do that every day.

It is so difficult to balance the minerals that you have mentioned. I think I need a lot of magnesium. For one reason, it helps my perpetual constipation. It would be nice to find the source of the problem, but magnesium is my current resolution. Then, I think I have a problem with the potassium/sodium balance too. Iron is difficult to balance with antioxidants too. I take a lot of vitamin C and other antioxidants, and worry about it causing my body to assimilate too much iron. Probably one reason for my constipation. It is just not easy. But thanks for your reminders.

[pinballdoctor]

I would never worry about overdosing on selenium or zinc, especially if over age 40. Its not what you take, its what you absorb, and the older you are the less you absorb,thus, you could easily double your intake.

If you are worried about getting too much iron, just take extra antioxidants and/or become a blood donor.

A multivitamin is not a good way to get minerals for two reasons. First, multivitamins don't contain all necessary minerals and secondly, humans are not designed to absorb rocks. Full spectrum colloidal minerals is a much better way to get your mineral cofactors.