Posted by Larry Hoover on December 7, 2002, at 11:27:09
In reply to For Larry Hoover - question about supplements, posted by Kari on December 7, 2002, at 10:53:13
> Hi Larry,
> Since I greatly value your knowledge about supplements and the information you share on this board, I hope you don't mind if I ask your opinion about this:
>
> http://www.dr-
> bob.org/babble/20021127/msgs/130127.html
>
> I am interested in any thoughts you might have about this.
> Thank you in advance,
> Kari.Just so everyone else knows what we're talking about, here's the original text:
>After having taken calcium citrate 500 mg and magnesium citrate 200 mg for some time now for treatment of early bone loss, I found that these minerals also have the effect of ADs and tranquilizers on me. The problem is that I can't seem to stay on that dose for long due to side effects such as severe dizziness and nausea, weakness, dulled senses and slowed thinking. I stopped taking vitamin D for fear of accumulating too much (I get a lot of sun).Does anyone have any idea how Cal-Mag can cause such problems? I am now taking half the amount and still feeling whoozy. Can taking these minerals deplete other nutrients or cause some other imbalance?
I'm sorry I didn't try to answer sooner. I don't mind the questions. In fact, they help me keep more aware of the details.
The problem with calcium/magnesium supplements is that deficiency and excess have virtually the same symptoms. You didn't mention clearly, but does the supplement cause you to have loose stools/diarrhea? If so, you could be losing more electrolytes (e.g. potassium) than you are taking in. If you have kidney problems, you may have an altered calcium/magnesium ratio. You should see a doctor and get blood tests done. There are more questions raised than I can answer.
You shouldn't be concerned about vitamin D intake. That alone (not taking it) could potentially lead to the problems above, as the active uptake mechanism for both calcium and magnesium ions requires vitamin D3. If the magnesium and calcium remain in the gut, they both draw fluid and electrolytes out of the body, into the stool. But, without blood chemistry, anything I say would be pure speculation, and could hurt you as well as help. There isn't enough information here. One thing you might try is to go to a drug store and finds some Pedialyte. I might not have spelled it right, but it's an oral rehydration therapy for diarrhea. It contains electrolytes to replace those lost from the body. If your symptoms go away, then this clinches the diagnosis. However, you'd still need to see a doctor to find out why this is happening to you.
>And can calcium supplements cause calcification of the arteries?
No. Calcium deposition will occur because of inflammation and scarring, completely independent of dietary intake.
poster:Larry Hoover
thread:130903
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021203/msgs/130908.html