Calcium From Supplements or Dairy Doesn't Strengthen Bones, Study Finds

[Jesus Malverde]

Source: NBC NEWS

A new study should put the final nail in the coffin for any lingering beliefs that calcium supplements are good for you.

The new study finds that people over 50 don't get stronger bones either by taking supplements or from eating calcium-rich foods such as dairy products.

The findings, reported in the British Medical Journal's online publication BMJ.com, support what U.S. health officials have been telling Americans for a few years now — taking calcium supplements is not just a waste of time, but it could be harmful. The extra calcium doesn't go to strengthen bones but instead can build up in the arteries, causing heart disease, or in the kidneys, causing kidney stones.

snip

Most of the studies showed people over 50 get no benefit at all from taking either calcium supplements or from eating calcium in food. People were just as likely to have a fracture. A few studies showed that people who took calcium supplements might have a lower risk, but they were not very clear.

Read more: http://www.nbcnews.com/health/diet-fitness/calcium-supplements-or-dairy-doesnt-strengthen-bones-study-finds-n435726

[7962]

1. So what, if you're over 50 you're just screwed?

[Codeine]

4. Weight-bearing exercise. nt

[get the red out]

35. Good stuff

Though I still love my yogurt. Just because I like the taste though.

[Javaman]

49. +1 nt

[wordpix]

58. I love yoga and strength training class

works for me, and I have osteoporosis

[restorefreedom]

10. leafy greens and weight bearing exercise, they say.

at least that is what sanjay gupta said this morning

[Dont call me Shirley]

73. Organic dark leafy greens are high in magnesium, necessary for healthy bones. Eat lots of greens!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/carolyn-dean-md-nd/bone-health_b_1540931.html

[snagglepuss]

13. A minimum of 2000 IU of Vitamin daily.

Vitamin D is essential for strong bones and the recommended daily allowance found in pills does not provide enough nor does being in sunshine, in fact vitamin D deficiency is extremely common through-out the southern states..

Google Reinhold Vieth's Vitamin D research. Vieth is a professor in the Departments of Nutritional Sciences, Laboratory Medicine, and Pathobiology, Bone and Mineral Laboratory, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Toronto.

[7962]

14. Well, at least I've got that covered. Been taking that for years

Also heard it was good for colon health and my colonoscopy was perfect!

[snagglepuss]

20. Lungs as well. Not many people know that the lungs have specific

receptors for Vitamin D. In fact one study showed that a high number of children who visited one ER with pneumonia had low levels of Vitamin D. It is really fascinating to read just how important Vitamin D is as it is used in so many different ways by the body.

[7962]

39. I forgot about that! I've always called D "God's vitamin"

Much to the chagrin of some folks, I'm sure.
But its the one major vitamin that your body makes on its own and the sun is what lets you do it. Granted, you still may need extra. Someone like me for example. I have vitiligo, so I wear long sleeves even in summer, and I wear sunscreen when most people dont even think about it.
I'm willing to give natural stuff a try before taking a drug for sure. Not a lot of side effects. Although some stuff can be so darn expensive!

[SusanCalvin]

15. And vitamin k2, as mk-7. nt

[Jim Lane]

26. I think you mean 2,000 IU.

For Vitamin D, one IU (International Unit) is the biological equivalent of 0.025 μg (μg = microgram = one one-millionth of a gram). Your suggested 2,000 mg = 2 grams = 2,000,000 one-millionths of a gram = 80,000,000 IU. Typical supplements have only 1,000 or 2,000 IU.

A complication is that there may be toxicity to high levels of Vitamin D supplementation. One study suggested that the tolerable upper intake level (the highest daily intake of the nutrient that is likely to pose no risk) might be as low as 4,000 IU, but admitted that there is uncertainty on the subject. As against that, some nutritionists recommend getting 5,000 IU a day or even more. As against that, I think that some of the scientists reaching this conclusion were financed by supplement manufacturers.

For a species that can land a probe on a comet, it's amazing how much uncertainty we still confront concerning some fairly basic questions about our own nutritional needs.

[snagglepuss]

29. Yes I meant IU. Thanks for pointing that out. I have made the correction.

Those researching it tend to take more, for instance a researcher at Queens University takes 4000 IU's daily during the winter. Vieth takes 10000 IU daily, the amount of vitamin D a human would absorb being in the sun for 8 hours.

The key is to be tested. I have always commuted daily by bike and until I read about Vitamin D,I had assumed that my being outside so much my levels would be fine however after testing my levels I found out that was was deficient.

[7962]

40. My ex wife was prescribed a 50K IU pill once a week!

[mike_c]

67. I was too, but only for a short time...

...then switched to 5,000 IU daily. Been taking it for years now. People just don't spend enough time naked outdoors in equatorial sunlight anymore.

[Mosby]

63. vitamin D miscalculation

http://blogs.creighton.edu/heaney/2015/02/13/the-iom-miscalculated-its-rda-for-vitamin-d/

[roomtomove]

24. better yet...

have more sex........

[7962]

41. Havent seen a "study" showing any negatives for that! nt

[padfun]

2. Huh?

"Most of the studies showed people over 50 get no benefit at all from taking either calcium supplements or from eating calcium in food. People were just as likely to have a fracture. A few studies showed that people who took calcium supplements might have a lower risk"

So which is it? No benefit AT ALL, or Might have a lower risk? It's either one or the other.

[tomm2thumbs]

3. good catch

I guess they are playing all the numbers on the roulette table and hoping something hits

[Codeine]

5. The key is "a few studies" and "might".

Overall the meta-study found it probably did nothing.

[snagglepuss]

21. I'm sure other experts will weigh in and find fault with how the

study was done and its conclusions. This won't be the last word.

[karynnj]

42. the meta study where they considered all studies

Found no benefit. Some of the underlying studies had found small improvements.

[Codeine]

6. The dairy/bone strength correlation

was debunked decades ago. I thought that was common knowledge.

[Gregorian]

9. Really. Anyone drinking milk is either a cow, or not well informed.

Funny, since magnesium deficiency is far more prevalent than calcium deficiency.

[mucifer]

31. Milk industry advertisement is powerful and people remember it.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

33. I still like a milkshake every so often.

And the soy or almond milks have just never worked for it for me.

[get the red out]

36. Soy dose a number in my

Now that I am post-menopause. The hormones cause my body to react with pain.

[Person 2713]

64. Soy is a known hormone disruptor. Unfortunately since it is cheap due to GMO it is in a lot of

products

[AngryAmish]

70. I find it brings all the boys to the yard

[Person 2713]

7. That's a good read but so many people do not want to listen even when you mention

heart trouble. They have been convinced for so long esp the dairy industry yes
Now I mention magnesium and people say no I don't take that with my calcium That's what they should take alone and are likely low in
IMO
also so many food products are calcium fortified
However lacking or no calcium iin your diet can cause kidney stones too

[Mona]

8. It's not just about calcium...

Calcium needs to be balanced with the other cofactors/minerals: http://www.lifeextension.com/Magazine/2012/8/Potential-Danger-Of-Calcium-Supplements/Page-01

Additionally, most of these main stream studies with supplements are poorly designed and/or controlled, and reported with a distinct bias. This is an old article, but it highlights some of the issues: http://www.lifeextension.com/Magazine/2006/6/cover_media/Page-01

ETA: with the amount of phosphorous that the typical american ingests (often from soda alone), it's common sense that we are generally calcium deficient. The question is what is the best way to balance that additional calcium. Having a mom with osteoporosis that we managed for years with a supplement program, I'll opt for a well-rounded supplement program any day.

[bananas]

16. Bazinga!

[restorefreedom]

11. the dairy calcium link has always been propoganda from the dairy industry

recent studies are now shedding light on the truth. For example vegans, or other people who don't consume a lot of dairy, don't have high rates of osteoporosis. One possible reason is that they are getting less protein and protein tends to leach calcium from the body. Another school of thought says that high meat diets acidify the blood, increasing the risk.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/christiane-northrup/osteoporosis-treatment-a_b_585528.html

[SkyDaddy7]

53. And the supplement industry.

Very few are worth taking one can get everything they need by eating correctly. The problem is folks want to eat shit & pop some pills & feel healthy.

[restorefreedom]

55. i think i have heard of that

the pop tart diet....


the other sad thing is that modern foods are sometimes lacking in high nutritional value due to poor soil conditions, etc. but i agree that we should be getting nutrients from food as the primary source. the big exception is vegans who need b12.

[SkyDaddy7]

56. I suffered a spinal cord injury...

after playing soccer my entire life...While in top shape diet was all about carbs to me & did not have to worry about weight gain. Needless to say after my SCI I put on a lot of weight. I'm 5'9 and weighed 185 with a 30" waist prior to my SCI then shot to 240lbs & knew something had to be done.

I jumped on what many of the Pro Athletes are moving to Vegan (Lite) lifestyle which is Vegan with small portions of chicken & seafood a few times a week...I eat clams, shrimp, Salmon, oysters, etc., which is packed with b-12.
(Some of the athletes are total Vegan & some "Lite" but both incorporate pastas & tons more carbs I DON'T because I can't burn them)
I eat no processed foods, meats, drink only water & black coffee...I eat tons of different salads, various veggies that I love to cook in many different ways or snack on raw, FRUIT & I eat TONS of nuts!!

Started 3yrs ago & without being able to exercise I weigh 155lbs & I am very closely monitored by family doctor & a team of spinal rehab doctors at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta & 2 different doctors at the Shepherd Pain Institute in Atlanta. All my physicals have been improving since late 2012 & the one last month was really good.

It is hard at first to break away from the garbage & quick processed food we have been addicted to but once you get a routine down find things you like it becomes normal & you really do feel better.

People don't believe you can lose weight without exercise but you can it just takes a long time & a VERY DISCIPLINED lifestyle. No cheating at all because your body will store that crap as fat.

Edit: I do take one supplement 5000 IU Vitamin D...I can't go out in the sun due to Neuropathic pain issues & medication & my D levels had dropped low now they are well within normal.

[restorefreedom]

57. i think the vegan/vl diet is getting more popular

the health benefits are tough to beat. i try and avoid processed as well. and i always feel better when i keep the carbs low. i do like rice but don't eat a lot of it at once

i was told to take d and i watch the b12 as well. i am also a smoothie freak. i could almost live on fruit and veggie smoothies with protein powder and soymilk.

the discipline part is hard with today's hectic lifestyle and marketing of crap foods. but i think people are starting to get on board.

all the best to you for continued health and improvement

[SkyDaddy7]

61. Thanks...You too!!

[restorefreedom]

62. thanks...go veggies! :)

[Dont call me Shirley]

74. I'm vegan lite too, for the past 3 months, lost 30 lbs. No processed foods, lots of greens, veges,

whole herbs, fermented foods, olive and coconut oils, raw nuts, very minimalist on meat, hard boiled organic eggs.

My BS, BP and cholesterol are going down to near normal.

I did sneak a few junkie foods but felt crappy.

Good for you SkyDaddy7 keep on going!

[SkyDaddy7]

80. Cool!

Thanks!

Good for you!

[tammywammy]

75. During my last physical my vitamin D level came back low

I was telling my dad and then he was trying to convince me to take a daily multivitamin. I told him "all you do with that is pee it out". I kept telling him that they're pointless. I mean if he wants to keep on with his daily Centrum Silver, by all means okay. But when I say "no, there's no reason to", don't keep telling me to.

Guess what, still not taking a multivitamin. I'm taking vitamin D for 12 weeks and then I'll get retested.

[SkyDaddy7]

81. Yes there continues to be more info that multi-vitamins...

Are not worth taking for most people...Eating properly is where you get your daily vitamins. However, vitamin D is one of those rare supplements that the body will absorb & use properly people who's levels are low should take. It may take getting tested a couple of times over a period of time to get your dosage correct. DO NOT take a lot it can be toxic!!!

I would not take anymore than 3000 IU a day until you get tested to see where your levels are. That is just be very safe.

[tammywammy]

83. I'm only taking one pill a week for 13 weeks

It says it's 50,000u. He added the vitamin D test a few years ago to the regular physical. I've had to take it before.

[Bearware]

12. ...final nail in the coffin for any lingering beliefs... - maybe not the coffin they hope for

The following video shows in diagrammatic form what is really happening.

http://www.ucsd.tv/search-details.aspx?showID=29081
If you are in a hurry skip ahead to 28:00
The entire video is very informative on how studies like that referenced in the op are designed.

For more context watch:
http://www.ucsd.tv/search-details.aspx?showID=29077

[snagglepuss]

23. Thanks for those links. I'll defintitely watch them.

Welcome to DU

[bananas]

17. Calcium causes calcification of the arteries? Who knew?

From the article:

The extra calcium doesn't go to strengthen bones but instead can build up in the arteries, causing heart disease, or in the kidneys, causing kidney stones.

This is actually a very complex issue - trying to blame one mineral is like trying to blame the letter "a" for all bad grammar. And that's what many of these studies do - they try to isolate a single variable over too wide a range of effects.

Most biologists are functionally illiterate when it comes to mathematics - and logic.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stiff_equation

In mathematics, a stiff equation is a differential equation for which certain numerical methods for solving the equation are numerically unstable, unless the step size is taken to be extremely small. It has proven difficult to formulate a precise definition of stiffness, but the main idea is that the equation includes some terms that can lead to rapid variation in the solution.

[Pmc1962]

19. Sorry, I take issue with your potshot at biologists.

My late husband was a cell biologist.

Biologists, as do most scientists, know way more about math and statistics than most people.

Isolating variables and doing statistical analysis is a huge part of their research. Scientists are incredibly logical, sometimes to an extreme degree. They assess and interpret data all day long.

Insulting them is not only uncalled for but unnecessary and off topic.

And, quite frankly, the data on supplements has shown them, consistently and over many years, to be close to worthless. Follow the data.

[snagglepuss]

25. Touche! Always interesting to read an informed rebuttal that doesn't mince words..

Welcome to DU!

[7962]

44. Much of that data is from pharmaceutical companies,

who have a great interest in getting people to take medicine instead of something natural that they cant make a ton of money off of.
I guess you would dispute the info from Harvard Med mentioned in post #27?
I'm sure some of the people I've known who found help with supplements may be affected by the "placebo effect", but if they got better who cares? But I've seen swollen legs go away and people gain mobility from adding certain supplements to their diet. I'm not gonna tell them they're wasting their money.

[Pmc1962]

51. Much of the data is from the NIH/NCCIH, not the pharmaceutical industry.

The supplement industry is no more trustworthy that the pharmaceutical industry, only less regulated. (Links below about the trustworthiness of the supplement industry. They aren't comprehensive but I could find them in 15 seconds. I also threw in a few studies on effects of supplementation.)

There is nothing natural about supplements, which are manufactured products which come out of a factory. They are not a salad.

Read the Harvard link carefully for data versus recommendation. Basically, it says:

1. There is data that low Vit D levels and illness are correlated. But, as is often stated, correlation is not causation. Did the low levels cause the illness, did the illness cause the low levels or did neither cause the other?

2. There is no data that supplementing fixes the problem or treats the diseases.

3. There is data that supplementing aggressively causes more harm than good.

There have been multiple observations regarding low levels of various nutrients in illnesses. There is almost zero support for supplementing those nutrients. Most data has shown supplements either don't do anything or cause harm.

Eat a salad, go outside, exercise. My mother was right.

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/02/03/sidebar-whats-in-those-supplements/?_r=0
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/03/09/safety-of-herbal-supplements-pulls-prosecutors-together/
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25775274
http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/37/8/2123/suppl/DC1

[lady lib]

28. That's why you need to take Vit K2

in either the short acting MK4 or long acting MK7 form. The K2 moves the calcium from the arteries to the bones and teeth. Then you also need a magnesium supplement to help the vitamin D to do its job.
I take 4000 IU of D3 (because I'm trying to raise my blood level of D) + 90 mcg of MK7 + magnesium malate every day.

[d_legendary1]

18. So...no more Ben and Jerry's for me?

Now that makes me mad!!!

[jmowreader]

22. That's not what they said

Eat all the Ben and Jerry's you want. Just don't expect it to make your bones stronger.

[mucifer]

32. Ben and Jerry's is coming out with vegan ice cream soon.

I'm happy!

[Codeine]

50. No fucking way!!

That's really exciting.

[wordpix]

59. made with what? coconut or soy?

The coconut "ice cream" is dynamite but hard to find organic

[Person 2713]

65. We got that here but can't wait to taste B&J 's

http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=Vegan+Ice+Cream&find_loc=Chicago%2C+IL

[Not a Fan]

27. From the Harvard School of Public Health

Vitamin D and Health
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/vitamin-d

There is a lot of good information here. When restoring Vitamin D3 levels, VD3 maximizes your calcium impact X4. For this reason it is recommended that you NOT take calcium when taking VD - beyond dietary calcium - unless you are under the care of a physician who has you taking it.

Vitamin D3 is all about bone and muscle health. I'll mention that while there is definitely a place for treatment with single high-dose VD3 to cover a long time period - experts feel this is not the best way to take it - that it is less effective.

***********************************

"Vitamin D and Bone and Muscle Strength

Several studies link low vitamin D levels with an increased risk of fractures in older adults, and they suggest that vitamin D supplementation may prevent such fractures—as long as it is taken in a high enough dose. (9–13)

A summary of the evidence comes from a combined analysis of 12 fracture prevention trials that included more than 40,000 elderly people, most of them women. Researchers found that high intakes of vitamin D supplements—of about 800 IU per day—reduced hip and non-spine fractures by 20 percent, while lower intakes (400 IU or less) failed to offer any fracture prevention benefit. (13)

Vitamin D may also help increase muscle strength, which in turn helps to prevent falls, a common problem that leads to substantial disability and death in older people. (14–16) Once again, vitamin D dose matters: A combined analysis of multiple studies found that taking 700 to 1,000 IU of vitamin D per day lowered the risk of falls by 19 percent, but taking 200 to 600 IU per day did not offer any such protection. (17)

A recent vitamin D trial drew headlines for its unexpected finding that a very high dose of vitamin D increased fracture and fall risk in older women. (18) The trial’s vitamin D dose—500,000 IU taken in a once-a-year pill—was much higher than previously tested in an annual regimen. After up to 5 years of treatment, women in the vitamin D group had a 15 percent higher fall risk and a 26 percent higher fracture risk than women who received the placebo.

It’s possible that giving the vitamin D in one large dose, rather than in several doses spread throughout the year, led to the increased risk. (18) The study authors note that only one other study—also a high-dose, once-a-year regimen—found vitamin D to increase fracture risk; no other studies have found vitamin D to increase the risk of falls. Furthermore, there’s strong evidence that more moderate doses of vitamin D taken daily or weekly protect against fractures and falls—and are safe.

So what is the significance of this study for people who want to take vitamin D supplements? A reasonable conclusion would be to continue taking moderate doses of vitamin D regularly, since these have a strong safety record, but to avoid extremely high single doses. This recent finding does present a challenge to scientists who will work to understand why the extreme single dose appears to have adverse effects."

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

34. I wonder where extreme kicks in.

The last time I hit a Dr. he prescribed me 3000 IU of D daily.

[Person 2713]

66. That would be no where near extreme

[Midnight Writer]

30. 70 grams of protein a day helps to maintain muscle mass (as much as exercise)

in folks over 50. More muscle mass gives support to the skeleton so that even if the bones weaken, the muscles will take up the slack.

Best practice; 70 grams or more of protein daily, stay active and work the core muscles through daily walking, balance and strength training, and control excessive weight.

[get the red out]

37. The thing I have finally learned

Everybody's body is different. I don't bother with calcium because I enjoy dairy, no matter what I eat someone will basically see me as a dietary heretic. No one can win with everybody on nutritional choices, I used to be that way myself. I became what I used to despise this summer and dropped 28 lbs. and my knees stopped hurting. I feel I get what I need from my food, but if someone feels more secure taking calcium, NBD.

[Babel_17]

38. K2/MK-7, Vitamin D, and Magnesium

Thank you to those in this thread that mentioned them. I use Magnesium Glycinate but the cheaper Citrate or Malate forms are also fine. So are several others.

https://drnibber.com/understanding-different-types-of-magnesium/

http://drhyman.com/blog/2010/05/20/magnesium-the-most-powerful-relaxation-mineral-available/

[7962]

43. Never heard of MK7 before this thread.

[Vinca]

45. Here's some tough news for people over 50: you're going to die.

We're all going to die. There is no magic pill that creates eternal health or eternal youth. Nature will win in the end.

[randome]

46. It's not 'natural' to die. It's a system bug.

We're getting closer every day to solving the disease of death.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]The truth doesn’t always set you free.
Sometimes it builds a bigger cage around the one you’re already in.[/center][/font][hr]

[Vinca]

47. But will we be able to afford the pills? That is the question.

[wordpix]

60. really? I doubt it b/c death is a planetary imperative

for living organisms. Every living thing dies, plants, insects, animals. What makes you think we can 'solve" such reality?

And frankly, having seen what my elderly parents went through in old age, I'm not excited about living long.

[Codeine]

52. Best not to make those later years

a cumulative health nightmare, however. Healthy lifestyle choices can make that time much more pleasant.

[Yo_Mama]

48. You need Vitamin D, calcium, zinc and especially magnesium

Also exercise and any needed treatment for inadequate circulation.

If you don't look at all four in the title, supplementing the others doesn't work. Calcium and magnesium have to be in balance in the body to rebuild and maintain bone.

However, if you get all four in balance, the supplements do work and do increase bone mass. Magnesium is often never even tested for - the insurance companies waged a war against magnesium testing, and won.

In patients with undiagnosed low magnesium levels, you often see recurrent lows of Vitamin D that don't respond to supplementation. Also you can generate insulin resistance - the cause is restricted microvascular circulation.

I think antacids and proton pump inhibitors are causing a lot of disease.

[dreamnightwind]

68. Hey can you elaborate on this at all or point to a resource?

I've been reading this thread especially because I have been and am on long-term (years) proton pump inhibitors after an endoscopy found esophagal pre-cancerous damage (they call it Barrett's esophasgus). I am wondering what I need to do to minimize damage from the inhibitors. Iideally I'd get off of the inhibitors, though that doesn't look likely.

Anyway, I am wondering about things like D and bone mass problems, I have muscle issues now too that I didn't used to have, and your post looked interesting. I also hadn't heard about K2 or MK7 before this thread.

[Yo_Mama]

71. If you are on PPI therapy (some people have to be) you should

be tested at least yearly for magnesium and the standard chem which does include stuff like potassium and calcium.

At the clinic we advise virtually everyone on PPI therapy to take a calcium/zinc/mag supplement daily. Something like Slow-Mag. But the supplements don't work for everyone, especially since if you get too low you will develop additional malabsorption problems.

FDA links about PPI therapy:
(hypomagnesia)
http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm245011.htm

podcast:
http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/DrugSafetyPodcasts/ucm246866.htm

In Germany, there was a case of a young man in his twenties who developed neurological problems and acute tetany caused by PPIs.

Tetany (spastic or cramping muscles) is a serious side effect, but the cardiac problems and in some patients, breathing problems can be quickly lethal.

If for any reason you are on diuretics also, you may need to be tested every six months or even every three months. Print the FDA thing out and take it to your doctor. If you are tested and you are low you may need an EKG and multiple retests to ensure that the problem is corrected.

In persons with a family history of Type II diabetes and/or CV disease the concerns are more acute and H1AC levels should be tested with the magnesium and blood chemistry. Just the serum glucose alone is not enough.

Good luck; don't ignore this.

In the clinic we have reversed several cases of severe TII diabetes at a young age just with the combined therapy including magnesium, and one case of acute supraventricular tachycardia. The effect of PPIs seem very individual. We have also seen bone mass increase without the standard therapies, and several cases of people who just could not maintain decent Vitamin D levels were reversed as well. So this is a real problem - how prevalent it is is unknown, unfortunately.

[dreamnightwind]

72. Wow, thank you so much for that response

Kaiser, who put me on the PPI, does not monitor those levels, or I didn't know enough to get them to. I have been struggling with the muscle spasm/cramping issues, pretty severe out of the blue events that come and go, with no clue they could be related to the PPI, also rando electtrical firing pin-prick symptoms, perhaps unrelatedd. I can live with these things but getting at their cause would be much better, I'll definitely pursue this with my doctor. Also my family history includes the two risk groups you mention. Thanks again.

[Yo_Mama]

79. Nobody's monitoring - even endocrinologists don't do it. But

we have known since the 1980s that low magnesium levels create insulin resistance even in young healthy people, and this is a gap in care.

Also, most people with the family history of Type II diabetes will develop high blood sugars after eating long before the serum fasting glucose will pop high, and higher blood sugars make the kidneys dump water, which then prevents the kidneys from recirculating to capture magnesium.

Low magnesium makes diabetics see higher blood sugars. It's a nasty downward spiral and there are people with genetics that make them more or less prone to developing hypomagnesia.

With that family history, I think you need to discuss this seriously with your doctor.

Some background:
http://ndt.oxfordjournals.org/content/15/5/568.full

Magnesium/insulin resistance:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10726923?dopt=Abstract

Vascular disease, insulin resistance, low magnesium:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8505087?dopt=Abstract

IN the last link, the angiotensins are produced because the body responds to lower magnesium levels by tightening up the blood vessels to reduce blood flow to preserve magnesium for the central (heart, lungs). This raises blood pressure, and produces poor peripheral circulation. Because glucose storage in muscle is one of the primary glucose stabilizers, over a long period of time in some people with what we believe to be certain genetic traits, this produces a type of acquired McArdles similar to what is seen in some alcoholics. The body often compensates for this by raising carrying blood sugar levels, so adequate amounts of fuel get through to the circulation-constricted regions. It also raises cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

We believe that the very white skin and low Vitamin D levels seen in many of these individuals are produced by poor microvascular circulation, which would also produce poor intestinal absorption.

In these families, early development of peripheral neuropathy and perhaps autonomic neuropathy may arise from constricted circulation.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3161260/

However, the calcium and magnesium channels are related, and just dosing people with calcium alone can reduce magnesium absorption. Thus I would not expect calcium supplements alone to be very healthy.

There is also a strong relationship between low magnesium levels and chronic low potassium (hypokalemia).
http://jasn.asnjournals.org/content/18/10/2649.full

[dreamnightwind]

82. Thanks again

Lots of reading and learning to do, appreciate the links and info!

[REP]

76. Those on certain insulin should be checked for potassium deficiency too

I'm a non-diabetic kidney disease kidney patient, and for years have been diligent to manage hyperkalemia, so imagine my surprise after years of maintaining normal K levels, I was being pumped full of potassium in the hospital because I was very hypokalemic. Took about a month to figure out it was due to the switch in insulin (Humulin N to Lantus).

[TexasBushwhacker]

78. You need magnesium to maintain potassium levels too

You can eat all the bananas on the tree, but if you don't get enough magnesium, your sodium potassium balance will still be out of whack.

[ancianita]

54. Considering these countries' longevity, overall health, I'd say this study is refutable.

Also consider their additional diets which may or may not contain calcium-rich greens, or their exercise regimens which may or may not include weight bearing activity.

[AngryAmish]

69. Doot, doot

[Aerows]

77. Weight bearing exercises are most helpful

but the chances that I will give up milk, my beloved cottage cheese, sour cream and cheese in general is nil.

I have HDL cholesterol levels of 110. You don't get good cholesterol level like that without exercise and eating right.