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Cancer
Magnesium Could Provide Protection Against Colorectal Cancer
Date: 11/04/05
Keywords: Minerals
In previous e-alerts weve looked at the many benefits of adequate magnesium intake. As if that wasnt impressive enough, animal studies indicate that dietary magnesium may also provide protection against colorectal cancer. With research in this area relatively unexplored with humans so far, scientists at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, prepared a population-based study using information from the Swedish Mammography Cohort... According to studies, there are four simple steps you can take to reduce your risk of colorectal cancer:
1) Take a daily multivitamin
2) Get plenty of vitamin D (preferably from short periods of daily sun exposure)
3) Eat ample amounts of fresh fruits and vegetables
4) Get a colonoscopy
Okay, I admit, that last one isn't so simple, but it's extremely effective because colonoscopy not only looks for cancer polyps, it also removes them, sharply reducing cancer risk.
With todays e-alert well add one more item to that list. And the good news: Like the first three items, its simple and easy - and non-invasive.
Most valuable mineral
In previous e-alerts weve looked at the many benefits of adequate magnesium intake. Studies have shown that magnesium may promote bone flexibility while helping to prevent heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
As if that wasnt impressive enough, animal studies indicate that dietary magnesium may also provide protection against colorectal cancer. With research in this area relatively unexplored with humans so far, scientists at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, prepared a population-based study using information from the Swedish Mammography Cohort.
The Karolinska team gathered dietary and medical records on more than 61,000 women, aged 40 to 75 years, who were cancer-free at the outset of the study. Over a follow up period of nearly 15 years, about 800 cases of colorectal cancer were diagnosed.
Analysis of the data showed that women with the highest dietary intake of magnesium reduced their risk of colorectal cancer by 40 percent, compared to women who had the lowest magnesium intake.
This association held true when data was broken down to reflect cases of colon cancer or rectal cancer.
Easy come, easy go
Dietary magnesium is easy to come by. The mineral is naturally present in green leafy vegetables, avocados, nuts and seeds, and whole grains, but usually in small amounts, so you need to eat a wide variety of these foods regularly to get all the magnesium you need.
In a past e-alert I told you about research indicating that many adults are not getting enough magnesium in their diets. This is largely due to the stresses on the body that deplete stores of magnesium.
Starch, for instance, depletes magnesium, as does stress. You may also be at increased risk for magnesium deficiency if you regularly consume alcohol or diuretics because both can increase urinary excretion of the mineral. Prescription medications, like the antibiotics Gentamicin, Amphotericin, and Cyclosporin, can increase magnesium excretion as well.
Call in the reserves
I asked HSI Panellist Dr Allan Spreen to give us his thoughts on magnesium supplementation:
Ive always recommended 500 milligrams/day, since absorption of most forms isnt that great anyway, and I like to let people get the cheapest and easiest sources they can.
My limit for oral magnesium is that which causes any loosening of the stools (and theres always a distinct dose that will do it...in fact, it works like a charm for constipated people by taking a known dose at bedtime, plus it helps them sleep!). Im careful to warn people not to go over that limit for the simple reason that food is moved through the GI tract too quickly with too much magnesium, and that cuts down on absorption of nutrients (both from foods and supplements). However, that amount is usually between 400 and 1500 milligrams/day.
If youre concerned that you might have a magnesium deficiency, ask your doctor to test your blood for magnesium levels. A normal range is anywhere between .66 and 1.23 mmol/L (millimoles per litre). Then you can be reassured that your magnesium intake is getting absorbed to deliver all the benefits from this essential nutrient.
Back to top1) Take a daily multivitamin
2) Get plenty of vitamin D (preferably from short periods of daily sun exposure)
3) Eat ample amounts of fresh fruits and vegetables
4) Get a colonoscopy
Okay, I admit, that last one isn't so simple, but it's extremely effective because colonoscopy not only looks for cancer polyps, it also removes them, sharply reducing cancer risk.
With todays e-alert well add one more item to that list. And the good news: Like the first three items, its simple and easy - and non-invasive.
Most valuable mineral
In previous e-alerts weve looked at the many benefits of adequate magnesium intake. Studies have shown that magnesium may promote bone flexibility while helping to prevent heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
As if that wasnt impressive enough, animal studies indicate that dietary magnesium may also provide protection against colorectal cancer. With research in this area relatively unexplored with humans so far, scientists at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, prepared a population-based study using information from the Swedish Mammography Cohort.
The Karolinska team gathered dietary and medical records on more than 61,000 women, aged 40 to 75 years, who were cancer-free at the outset of the study. Over a follow up period of nearly 15 years, about 800 cases of colorectal cancer were diagnosed.
Analysis of the data showed that women with the highest dietary intake of magnesium reduced their risk of colorectal cancer by 40 percent, compared to women who had the lowest magnesium intake.
This association held true when data was broken down to reflect cases of colon cancer or rectal cancer.
Easy come, easy go
Dietary magnesium is easy to come by. The mineral is naturally present in green leafy vegetables, avocados, nuts and seeds, and whole grains, but usually in small amounts, so you need to eat a wide variety of these foods regularly to get all the magnesium you need.
In a past e-alert I told you about research indicating that many adults are not getting enough magnesium in their diets. This is largely due to the stresses on the body that deplete stores of magnesium.
Starch, for instance, depletes magnesium, as does stress. You may also be at increased risk for magnesium deficiency if you regularly consume alcohol or diuretics because both can increase urinary excretion of the mineral. Prescription medications, like the antibiotics Gentamicin, Amphotericin, and Cyclosporin, can increase magnesium excretion as well.
Call in the reserves
I asked HSI Panellist Dr Allan Spreen to give us his thoughts on magnesium supplementation:
Ive always recommended 500 milligrams/day, since absorption of most forms isnt that great anyway, and I like to let people get the cheapest and easiest sources they can.
My limit for oral magnesium is that which causes any loosening of the stools (and theres always a distinct dose that will do it...in fact, it works like a charm for constipated people by taking a known dose at bedtime, plus it helps them sleep!). Im careful to warn people not to go over that limit for the simple reason that food is moved through the GI tract too quickly with too much magnesium, and that cuts down on absorption of nutrients (both from foods and supplements). However, that amount is usually between 400 and 1500 milligrams/day.
If youre concerned that you might have a magnesium deficiency, ask your doctor to test your blood for magnesium levels. A normal range is anywhere between .66 and 1.23 mmol/L (millimoles per litre). Then you can be reassured that your magnesium intake is getting absorbed to deliver all the benefits from this essential nutrient.
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