Recommendations about the use of leucocytes to assess magnesium status

The results of this study suggest that leucocytes are suitable for detecting magnesium deficiency, although modifications in magnesium content may differ according to the population studied

Premenstrual increase of intracellular magnesium levels in women with ovulatory, asymptomatic menstrual cycles

Intracellular magnesium (Mg) levels regulate several enzymatic reactions and the hypoactivity of Mg has been involved in different pathological states. In addition to other factors, gonadal hormones, too, have been found to interfere in Mg balance. This study evaluates the changes in Mg in women throughout the normal menstrual cycle and those measured at weekly intervals in males. Magnesium and potassium (K) levels were measured in the plasma, red blood cells (RBC), lymphocytes (LC) and polymorphonucleated cells (PMN) of 11 normal menstruating women, in different periods of their menstrual cycle. Blood samples were collected every 4th day. According to the time and LH, progesterone and estradiol levels, they were classed as follicular (Foll), periovulatory (OV), luteal (Lut) or premenstrual (PM). The Menstrual Distress Questionnaire completed by the subjects revealed that no significant symptomatology was present. Four blood samples were also collected from 4 normal males, at weekly intervals. Mg and K were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. LC and PMN were purified by centrifugation on a Ficoll discontinuous gradient. No differences were found in males versus females in the Mg or K contents in the different compartments. In the 4 periods tested, the K levels were constant, in both females and males. The same applies for Mg contents in males. In females, Mg contents, as well as the Mg/K ratio in LC and PMN, showed a significant increase in the premenstrual period compared with the other periods of the cycle. On the contrary, plasma and RBC Mg levels were constant throughout the cycl

Oral magnesium supplementation improves fetal circulation.

It is well known that pregnancy is a condition in which plasma magnesium falls because of accumulation of the ion in the placenta and fetus. Magnesium (Mg) is therefore widely given as a supplement during pregnancy, particularly in cases of preterm labour. In our experience, the combination of oral Mg (magnesium pyrrolidone carboxylic acid) at a dose of 360 mg/day with conventional ritodrine treatment allows a reduction in ritodrine dosage, accompanied by a significant reduction in side effects. We therefore evaluated changes in fetal blood flow, using pulsed Doppler, in women submitted to combined magnesium and ritodrine treatment compared to those treated with ritodrine plus placebo. The Mg-treated group showed a decrease in vessel resistance both in the umbilical artery and in the fetal middle cerebral artery, indicating that fetal vasculature is sensitive to exogenous Mg. Measurement of plasma and mononuclear cell Mg showed an intracellular increase in the cation of about 10 per cent. We conclude that oral magnesium supplementation in pregnancy is safe and that it has a positive effect on the fetal circulation

Magnesium prophylaxis of menstrual migraine: effects on intracellular magnesium.

The effects of oral Magnesium (Mg) pyrrolidone carboxylic acid were evaluated in 20 patients affected by menstrual migraine, in a double-blind, placebo controlled study. After a two cycles run-in period, the treatment (360 mg/day of Mg or placebo) started on the 15th day of the cycle and continued till the next menses, for two months. Oral Mg was then supplemented in an open design for the next two months. At the 2nd month, the Pain Total Index was decreased by both Placebo and Mg, with patients receiving active drug showing the lowest values (P less than 0.03). The number of days with headache was reduced only in the patients on active drug. Mg treatment also improved premenstrual complaints, as demonstrated by the significant reduction of Menstrual Distress Questionnaire (MDQ) scores. The reduction of PTI and MDQ scores was observed also at the 4th month of treatment, when Mg was supplemented in all the patients. Intracellular Mg++ levels in patients with menstrual migraine were reduced compared to controls. During oral Mg treatment, the Mg++ content of Lymphocytes (LC) and Polymorphonucleated cells (PMN) significantly increased, while no changes in plasma or Red Blood Cells were found. An inverse correlation between PTI and Mg++ content in PMN was demonstrated. These data point to magnesium supplementation as a further means for menstrual migraine prophylaxis, and support the possibility that a lower migraine threshold could be related to magnesium deficienc

In Vitro Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Selected Oxalate-Degrading Probiotic Bacteria: Potential Applications in the Prevention and Treatment of Hyperoxaluria

Oxalate (Ox) is a very common component of the human diet, capable to collect in the renal tissue and bind calcium to form calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystals. A supersaturation of CaOx crystal may cause nephrocalcinosis and nephrolithiasis. The inflammation derived from the CaOx crystal accumulation, together with innate or secondary renal alterations, could strongly affect the renal function. In this case a consumption of probiotics with either oxalate-degrading activity at intestinal level and systemic anti-inflammatory activity could be an alternative approach to treat the subjects with excess of urinary oxalate excretion. 11 strains of lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria), already included in the list of bacteria safe for the human use, were investigated for their capability to degrade oxalate by mean of RP-HPLC-UV method and modulate inflammation in an in vitro model system based on peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Four promising bacterial strains (Lactobacillus plantarum PBS067, Lactobacillus acidophilus LA-14, Bifidobacterium breve PBS077, Bifidobacterium longum PBS078) were identified as innovative biological tools for the prevention and the therapeutic treatment of hyperoxaluria and the inflammatory events associated to the Ox accumulatio