Journal of the American College of Nutrition, Vol. 23, No. 6, 758S-762S (2004)
Published by the American College of Nutrition
Absorption and Effect of the Magnesium Content of a Mineral Water in the Human Body
Sandor A. Kiss, CSc,
Tamás Forster, DSc and
Ágnes Dongó, PhD
Hungarian Magnesium Society, Szeged, (S.A.K.)
University of Szeged, 2nd Department of Medicine and Cardiology Center (T.F., A.D.),Szeged, HUNGARY
Address reprint requests to: Sandor A Kiss, PhD, Hungarian Magnesium Society H-6726 Szeged, F
fasor 73 A/2, HUNGARY. forster{at}in2nd.szote.u-szeged.hu
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ABSTRACT
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Objective: The kinetics of magnesium (Mg) absorption, after drinking Magnesia mineral water (204 mg Mg/L), was investigated in healthy humans aged (23–60 yrs).
Methods: Serum Mg, calcium (Ca), potassium (K) and sodium (Na) content, blood hemoglobin, erythrocyte and white blood cell counts as well as urinary volume and urine Mg content were evaluated. Subjects drank 1.5 liters of Magnesia in 30 minutes; blood and the other tests were taken at 0, 2, 6, 24 and 48 hours, and after 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks. Serum ion quotient was calculated. Serum Mg levels increased in all cases, and returned to individual normal values after 48 hrs. Subjects drank copious amounts of the mineral water only on the first two days, later they consumed one glass of mineral water at a time, totalling 1–1.5 liters daily.
Results: Urinary volume and its Mg content significantly increased, with individual differences in urine Mg content depending on degrees of tissue Mg deficiency. For example, two subjects, who had the same initial serum Mg levels (79 m/M/L), responded to consumption of Magnesia mineral water similarly, with comparable rise of serum Mg but with different urinary Mg excretion, one rapidly excreting Mg, while the other lost less Mg over a longer period of time. The retention of more Mg in one than the other suggests that she had a "hidden" tissue Mg deficiency, despite a serum Mg level within normal limits. No subject experienced ECG or rhythm disturbance, and blood pressure remained unchanged during the study. One patient developed diarrhea.
Conclusion: Magnesia’s high Mg (204 mg/M) and low Na (5.4 mg/L) content makes it an excellent source of Mg for patients suffering from heart problems and/or high blood pressure.
Key words: magnesium, mineral water, absorption, serum
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INTRODUCTION
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To characterize mineral waters, their hardness, calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) content, as well as the ratio of the latter are usually given. However, sodium (Na) and potassium (K) contents are generally not taken into account. Many mineral waters and drinking water supplies contain amounts of Na that can contribute to high blood pressure. According to our previous comparative examinations, the ion quotient provides better dietary and sanitary characteristics than the simple Ca/Mg ratio [1]. There is an ion quotient that is mandatory for the well being of living organisms (plants and animals, including mankind) [2–9]. The ion quotient can be calculated with the following equation with concentrations given in mM/l [1,10].
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In human blood serum, the ideal value of X is about 25–28. Higher values: 30–33, indicate elevated blood pressure, but individual variations can be substantial. Besides hypertension, increased X values are associated with a greater risk of other non-infectious diseases (cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and preeclampsia). The X value can be much lower in certain cells (e.g. erythrocytes). Depending on the species, its value can be 0.1–0.25. Kisters’ (2000) studies [11] on rats showed that vascular smooth muscle cells of hypertensive SHR rats (192 mm Hg systolic pressure) contain 0. mg/g Mg, whereas normotensive WKY rats (117 mm Hg) have 1.15 mg/g Mg content, which is a 27.7% higher value. Increased intracellular (i.c.) Mg content of vascular cells causes vasodilation [12]. Increased i.c. Mg is associated with decreased i.c. Na and Ca and results in a decreased ion quotient. Every individual has a characteristic ion quotient; diversion from this value (and not from an average value) influences one’s health status. Alteration of the serum ion quotient can be achieved by food or drinking water. In patients with hypertension or other cardiovascular disorders, consumption of water with lower ion quotient is desirable. Melles-Kiss (1992) [13] have considered data showing that, spontaneous abortion and premature birth is less frequent in those areas where drinking water is richer in Mg. Mineral waters differ as to their ion quotients, therefore not all mineral waters are equally advisable for pregnant women and for patients with cardiovascular diseases.
Human Mg balance is positive at a daily intake of 6–8 mg of Mg/body weight kg, which equals a 420 mg/day Mg intake [14,15]. In adults, the usual intake with food and drinking water is about 300 mg/day, which can result in a negative Mg balance. Therefore, when the Mg intake is suboptimal, Mg levels should be repleted by either Mg rich mineral water, by other forms of Mg supplements, or by increased intake of Mg-rich foods.
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PATIENTS AND METHODS
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A protocol was established for investigation of the effect of drinking approximately 1.5 liters Magnesia mineral water daily in five healthy women (range 27–61 years, mean age 41 years). All subjects were examined at the Second Department of Medicine and Cardiology Center, University of Szeged. Variables measured were serum Mg, Ca, K, Na, red blood cell (RBC) and white blood cell (WBC) counts, as well as blood hemoglobin, and urine Mg. Initial blood pressure, heart rate and ECG were recorded. On the first day, subjects drank 1 liter Magnesia in 30 minutes, then blood tests were taken 2, 6, 24, 48 hours later. Thereafter, during the study, subjects consumed 1–1.5 liters Magnesia daily. Blood tests, ECG and blood pressure measurements were repeated after 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks. Serum ion quotient was also Subjective complaints were noted.
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RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
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Magnesia mineral water contains/liter:
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The calculated ion quotient is 0.17, which makes this water an ideal source for Mg supplementation. Each subject’s serum Mg level increased after the first day, but after 48 hours it returned to the subject’s control value. The subjects drank 1 litre Magnesia in a short period of time, only at the beginning of the study, to determine the characteristics of Mg turnover. It should be noted that during the study only one glass of water was drunk at a time by the individuals, with a daily total of 1–1.5 liters. The volume of the daily urine and Mg excretion was substantially increased (Table 1 and Fig. 1). The increase in urine Mg concentration varied widely among the subjects, which might be explained by occult tissue Mg deficiency. With greater tissue Mg deficiency, more Mg was retained, as expressed by less Mg appearing in the urine. Individual values are given in Table 2.
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Fig. 1. Serum and urine Mg showed a significant increase (p = 0.010 and 0.011, respectively) from baseline to 6 hours. Afterwards these values decreased slowly. Another peak occurred in urine Mg by the end of the first week. This was accompanied by a minimal increase in mean serum Mg content. By the end of the fourth week serum Mg returned to baseline.
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The consumption of Magnesia mineral water did not affect the subjects’ blood pressure, which remained normal during the study. Normal or even subnormal blood pressure remained unchanged, an indication of acceptability of which underlines the generalized use of the water. Other parameters showed no significant difference in baseline values. In healthy persons, consumption of Magnesia mineral water influenced only serum and urine Mg levels as well as urine volume. This fact supports our previous observation that oral Mg intake cannot result in overdosing, because normal kidneys excrete excess Mg. With decreased renal function, however, it is not desirable to drink Mg-rich water.
Two of the subjects (BA and BD), had the same (within normal limits) initial serum Mg value of 79 m/M/L, which suggested absence of Mg deficiency. However, they handled ingestion of Magnesia mineral water differently. Their serum Mg levels similarly increased, but their change of urinary Mg content was different. BD’s original urinary Mg output of 0.2 mM/L rose to 3.9 mM/L within 2 hours. In contrast, BA’s urinary Mg output, increased from the original 0.09 mM/L only to 1.1 mM/l in two hours, and took 6 hours to reach 36 mM/L. The difference between the two subjects’ total amount of excreted Mg was even more conspicuous. Over 6 hours, BD excreted 3.88 mM Mg while BA excreted only 1.68 mM, 57% less (Table 3). This suggests that BA had an occult (or "hidden") tissue Mg deficiency that was not manifested by a low serum Mg level. Thus, since BA and BD had the same serum Mg, the mere determination of serum Mg concentration is not an adequate index of Mg adequacy.
No ECG change and/or no rhythm disturbance were observed. Blood pressure remained unchanged during the study. One patient suffered from diarrhea on the very first day of drinking Magnesia; there were no other subjective complaints reported.
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CONCLUSIONS
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Our observations suggest that Magnesia mineral water is advisable even in patients without cardiovascular disorders. Based on our preliminary results, it would be profitable to conduct a long-term (2-year) study to examine the beneficial effect of Magnesia on patients with cardiovascular diseases (hypertensives, patients with dysrhythmias, with heart failure, or with mitral valve prolapse).
These data were collected only on Mg uptake in a few normal humans. Absorption appears affected shortly after consumption (within 2 hours), which is similar to magnesium absorption data, which we previously reported in plants.
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Therapy Suggestions
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The Magnesia mineral water has an exceptionally high Mg- and low Na-, Cl, and SO4 content. Our drinking experiments (1–1.5 L/day) verified that the Mg of the Magnesia mineral water is absorbed quickly. It is a very good Mg supplement, and has been shown to be useful in occult Mg deficiency. It is suggested that it should be useful to prevent illnesses, such as preeclampsia and toxemias of pregnancy, heart attacks, and hypertension, as well as other disorders associated with Mg inadequacy. We have found that increasing Mg intake by consuming mineral water is more acceptable than by taking pills.
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
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Appreciation is expressed to Karlovarske Mineralni Vody A.S. (Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic), for its supply of Magnesia.
Received August 5, 2004.
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ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
