Magnesium Deficiency in Multiple Sclerosis

The MS-Magnesium Connections

Symptoms of MS that are also symptoms of magnesium deficiency include muscle spasms, weakness, twitching, muscle atrophy,  an inability to control the bladder, nystagmus (rapid eye movements), hearing loss, and osteoporosis.  People with MS have higher rates of epilepsy than controls.  Epilepsy has also been linked to magnesium deficiencies.

Here are some interesting studies on multiple sclerosis and magnesium: 

•  In a 1995 paper published in the journal Acta Neurologica Scandinavica, patients with multiple sclerosis were found to be low in cellular magnesium. 1

• In a 1994 study from researchers at the Department of Physiology, State University of New York randomly selected hospital patients, compared to a control group of health volunteers the hospital patients with coronary heart disease, rectal cancer and multiple sclerosis exhibited extracellular deficits in ionized free magnesium. 2

• In a 1990 paper published by researchers from the Wakayama Medical College, Japan, magnesium (Mg) concentrations were studied in the brains of 4 patients with definite multiple sclerosis (MS) and 5 controls. The central nervous system tissues and the visceral organs, except for spleen, of MS patients showed significantly lower magnesium values than that seen in control cases. 3

• In a 1986 paper published in the journal Medical Hypothesis, A group of young patients having MS were treated with dietary supplements containing magnesium, calcium and vitamin D. The results showed a decrease in the relapse rate compared to what would have been expected based on the patients prior history of symptoms.  4

• In a case report published in the European Journal of Neurology, a patient with MS treated with oral magnesium glycerophosphate therapy, showed significant improvement after only one week of treatment. 5

Personal Observations

I personally have a related condition to MS called Ehlers-Danlos syndrome that has many overlapping features with MS. Over the years I have been able to control many of my symptoms with proper diet. During a recent relapse I had nutritional testing done again and was found to be low in magnesium, along with several other nutrients that are often linked to MS symptoms, such as vitamin B12 and vitamin D.

Related Pages:

• Multiple Sclerosis- Alternative Treatment with Diet Part I
  
  
• MS & Diet, Part II

References

1. Stelmasiak Z, Solski J, Jakubowska B. Magnesium concentration in plasma and erythrocytes in MS. Acta neurologica Scandinavica, 1995 Jul;92(1):109-11

2. Altura BT, Bertschat F, Jeremias A, Ising H, Altura BM. Comparative findings on serum IMg2+ of normal and diseased human subjects with the NOVA and KONE ISE's for Mg2+. Scandinavian journal of clinical and laboratory investigation. Supplementuml. 1994;217:77-81

3. Yasui M, Yase Y, Ando K, Adachi K, Mukoyama M, Ohsugi K. Magnesium concentration in brains from multiple sclerosis patients. Acta neurologica Scandinavica. 1990 Mar;81(3):197-200.

4. Goldberg P, Fleming MC, Picard EH. Multiple sclerosis: decreased relapse rate through dietary supplementation with calcium, magnesium and vitamin D. Medical Hypotheses. 1986 Oct;21(2):193-200.

5. P. Rossier, S. van Erven and D. T. Wade. The effect of magnesium oral therapy on spasticity in a patient with multiple sclerosis . European Journal of Neurology Volume 7 Page 741 - December 2000 doi:10.1046/j.1468-1331.2000.00142.x Volume 7 Issue 6

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