Research appearing in the American Journal of Hypertension (published online Aug. 12, 2010) looked at the relationship between serum magnesium levels and carotid artery plaques. The subjects were 728 Japanese men and women with a mean age of 67. Low serum magnesium was found to be strongly associated with increased IMT (intima-media thickness) and carotid plaques.

This makes sense because magnesium influences vascular (blood vessel) tone and is a cofactor for acetylcholine-induced endothelium dependent relaxation (meaning it helps blood vessels relax). Other research that appeared in Magnesium Research (Volume 1, Number 1, February 2010) looked at magnesium supplementation and its effect on the health of the blood vessel lining. The subjects of the study were 60 elderly diabetic patients. Thirty of the subjects, mean age 71, received 368 mg of magnesium supplementation (given as 4.5 g of magnesium pidolate). The other 30 received no supplementation and acted as a control group. Endothelial (blood vessel lining) function was evaluated by flow-mediated dilatation of the brachial artery at the start of the study and again after 30 days of intervention. Supplementation with magnesium resulted in a significant improvement in blood vessel lining function (ability to dilate after a period without oxygen – that’s a good thing).

Our “Calm” is our best selling magnesium formula and is a great magnesium supplement for people with cardiac and blood pressure issues, hypertension, cardiac arrhythmias, tachycardia, psychological stress, panic attacks and leg cramps. CALM contains 400 milligrams of magnesium per cap.

Marcus Ettinger BSc, DC

My husband was recently diagnosed with high blood pressure and I now need to confirm that none of the supplements he currently takes will aggravate or contribute to this condition.  Can you please let me know if ANY of the ingredients that are in your Liquid Power Ultra Complete Daily Multiple will increase blood pressure in users.  (Note: I had read that men who’ve had heart attacks should not take L-Arginine, – Liquid Power lists the amino acid Arginine – but I don’t know if that would also affect those with high blood pressure.)

Separately, we are trying to find natural remedies to help with his high blood pressure condition.  We’ve currently started a daily regime of CoQ10, OPC, Hawthorne and Garlic, which seems to have had some preliminary success in lowering his numbers.  Can you tell me if there is a specific product by CAOH that we might look at for his condition?

Sincerely,

A. Sandoval

Answer: AS,

Nothing in the Liquid Power will raise his BP. The only other supplement I would add is magnesium (very important). Start w/one a day and work up to two a day. Reason is that magnesium in some people can have a slight laxative effects a la Milk of Magnesia. I take 3 and have no problem, most people don’t until they get to 3 or 4.

Sincerely,

Marcus Ettinger DC, BSc

Reply back: Dear Dr. Ettinger,

I want to sincerely thank you for taking the time to send me your response below.  My husband and I are both very happy to hear that we can continue to use the Liquid Power product without interruption … and also, thanks to your recommendation regarding the magnesium, my husband’s BP numbers have been significantly reduced!  Thank you for that information.

Sincerely,

A. Sandoval

Diseases of the heart and circulation are so common and the public is so well acquainted with the major symptoms that result from cardiovascular disorders that patients, and occasionally physicians, wrongly attribute many unrelated complaints to cardiovascular disease (CVD).  It should not be a surprise that this occurs, as most patients are aware that cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States.

There are four principle properties of the cardiovascular system that can be evaluated to provide information to help manage cardiovascular disease.  These include movement of electrical signals through the heart, heart pump function, blood flow through the heart, and anatomy.  There are several risk factors for cardiovascular disease that are essentially undeniable. These are older age, male gender, and a family history of CVD.  Additionally, three major risk factors identified include cigarette smoking, dyslipidemia (high cholesterol), and hypertension.

By definition a multivitamin is a preparation intended to supplement a human diet with vitamins, dietary minerals and other nutritional elements.  A multivitamin/mineral supplement is defined in the United States as a supplement containing 3 or more vitamins and minerals but does not include herbs, hormones, or drugs, with each nutrient dosage below the tolerable upper level determined by the Food and Drug Board (FDA).  People with dietary imbalances may include those on restrictive diets and those who can't or won't eat a nutritious diet.  Pregnant women and elderly adults have different nutritional needs than other adults, and a multivitamin may be indicated by their physicians.

A recent study was done involving 128 obese Chinese women aged 18-55 years having an increased risk of cardiovascular disease by having hypertension, hyperglycemia or hyperlipidemia.  It was a 26-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with the subjects receiving either one tablet of high-dose multivitamin and mineral supplement (MMS), or one tablet of low-dose MMS (Low MMS), or calcium 162 mg (Calcium) or identical placebo (Placebo) daily.  The results showed that supplementation with adequate multivitamin and mineral supplement could reduce blood pressure and serum CRP in obese women with increased cardiovascular disease risk. (1)

(1).    Wang C, Li Y, Zhu K, et al. Effects of supplementation with multivitamin and mineral on blood pressure and C-reactive protein in obese Chinese women with increased cardiovascular disease risk. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2009;18(1):121-30.

Check our multivitamins here!