ORANGE, Calif.—New insights from Carolyn Dean, M.D., N.D., magnesium expert and medical director of the Nutritional Magnesium Association, show vitamin D’s effectiveness and benefits are greatly undermined in the absence of adequate levels of magnesium in the body. The two work synergistically, as magnesium is essential to the activity of vitamin D. Vitamin D deficiencies have been linked to the development of dozens of diseases, including a variety of cancers, such as breast cancer, prostate cancer and colon cancer, as well as diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, osteoporosis, psoriasis and mental illness.
"While many people are beginning to realize the amazing health benefits that vitamin D has to offer in the prevention of disease, they may not be getting the full benefits from vitamin D without also supplementing their diets with magnesium, which is a vital nutrient that works synergistically with vitamin D," said Dean."Adequate levels of magnesium in the body are essential for the absorption and metabolism not only of vitamin D but of calcium as well. Magnesium converts vitamin D into its active form so that it can help calcium absorption. Magnesium stimulates a particular hormone, calcitonin, which helps to preserve bone structure and draws calcium out of the blood and soft tissues back into the bones, preventing osteoporosis, some forms of arthritis and kidney stones."
Magnesium Research published a number of studies, finding:
- Magnesium is essential for the metabolism of vitamin D.
- Magnesium influences the body's utilization of vitamin D by activating cellular enzyme activity.
- Enzymes are protein molecules that stimulate every chemical reaction in the body. All the enzymes that metabolize vitamin D require magnesium.
- Magnesium has a possible role in vitamin D's effect on the immune system.
Another study published in the European Journal of Pediatrics, states: "Low magnesium has been shown to alter, by way of decreasing, production of vitamin D's active form ..."
A 32-page guide to the benefits of magnesium, along with magnesium deficiency symptoms, written by Dean, is available as a free download.
