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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Kari on December 7, 2002, at 10:53:13
Hi Larry,
Since I greatly value your knowledge about supplements and the information you share on this board, I hope you don't mind if I ask your opinion about this:http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20021127/msgs/130127.html
I am interested in any thoughts you might have about this.
Thank you in advance,
Kari.
Posted by Larry Hoover on December 7, 2002, at 11:27:09
In reply to For Larry Hoover - question about supplements, posted by Kari on December 7, 2002, at 10:53:13
> Hi Larry,
> Since I greatly value your knowledge about supplements and the information you share on this board, I hope you don't mind if I ask your opinion about this:
>
> http://www.dr-
> bob.org/babble/20021127/msgs/130127.html
>
> I am interested in any thoughts you might have about this.
> Thank you in advance,
> Kari.Just so everyone else knows what we're talking about, here's the original text:
>After having taken calcium citrate 500 mg and magnesium citrate 200 mg for some time now for treatment of early bone loss, I found that these minerals also have the effect of ADs and tranquilizers on me. The problem is that I can't seem to stay on that dose for long due to side effects such as severe dizziness and nausea, weakness, dulled senses and slowed thinking. I stopped taking vitamin D for fear of accumulating too much (I get a lot of sun).Does anyone have any idea how Cal-Mag can cause such problems? I am now taking half the amount and still feeling whoozy. Can taking these minerals deplete other nutrients or cause some other imbalance?
I'm sorry I didn't try to answer sooner. I don't mind the questions. In fact, they help me keep more aware of the details.
The problem with calcium/magnesium supplements is that deficiency and excess have virtually the same symptoms. You didn't mention clearly, but does the supplement cause you to have loose stools/diarrhea? If so, you could be losing more electrolytes (e.g. potassium) than you are taking in. If you have kidney problems, you may have an altered calcium/magnesium ratio. You should see a doctor and get blood tests done. There are more questions raised than I can answer.
You shouldn't be concerned about vitamin D intake. That alone (not taking it) could potentially lead to the problems above, as the active uptake mechanism for both calcium and magnesium ions requires vitamin D3. If the magnesium and calcium remain in the gut, they both draw fluid and electrolytes out of the body, into the stool. But, without blood chemistry, anything I say would be pure speculation, and could hurt you as well as help. There isn't enough information here. One thing you might try is to go to a drug store and finds some Pedialyte. I might not have spelled it right, but it's an oral rehydration therapy for diarrhea. It contains electrolytes to replace those lost from the body. If your symptoms go away, then this clinches the diagnosis. However, you'd still need to see a doctor to find out why this is happening to you.
>And can calcium supplements cause calcification of the arteries?
No. Calcium deposition will occur because of inflammation and scarring, completely independent of dietary intake.
Posted by Kari on December 7, 2002, at 14:21:37
In reply to Re: For Larry Hoover - question about supplements, posted by Larry Hoover on December 7, 2002, at 11:27:09
Posted by Larry Hoover on December 7, 2002, at 15:36:45
In reply to Thank you , Larry! (nm), posted by Kari on December 7, 2002, at 14:21:37
I checked on the NOAEL (No observable adverse effects level) and LOAEL (Lowest ...) for vitamin D, and they are 2400 IU and 3600 IU, respectively. Just in case you're wondering how much you can take without the least bit of concern.
Posted by Kari on December 8, 2002, at 12:43:16
In reply to Re: about vitamin D » Kari, posted by Larry Hoover on December 7, 2002, at 15:36:45
Thank you for this info! I guess my concerns about taking 100 or 200 IU daily were slightly out of place :)
Posted by Larry Hoover on December 8, 2002, at 13:00:06
In reply to Re: about vitamin D » Larry Hoover, posted by Kari on December 8, 2002, at 12:43:16
> Thank you for this info! I guess my concerns about taking 100 or 200 IU daily were slightly out of place :)
You're welcome. I thought it was an important extra piece of information. We're constantly being warned about getting too much vitamin A or D, because they're fat soluble, yet overdose is so strikingly rare, it often makes the literature. In contrast, deficiency is really quite common. Despite supplementation of milk with vitamin D, rickets is actually rising in prevalence in the U.S.
Because calcium regulation in the body is complex, I'd still recommend some medical supervision.
Posted by IsoM on December 8, 2002, at 13:30:14
In reply to Re: about vitamin D » Kari, posted by Larry Hoover on December 7, 2002, at 15:36:45
Like you, Larry, I'd make the perfect absent-minded prof type. One of my sons says I make the perfect Professor Frink (from the TV Simpsons). So I tend to take my supplements somewhat haphazardly like you except for magnesium, B vitains & C. The amount of D I take works out to 2000-3000 IU daily (as I don't need to take it every day as it's not water soluble). All I know is one of the benefits, beyond healthy bone formation, is increased immunity. I haven't had a cold in many, many years & the last time I had the flu was over 28 years ago. I did develop pneumonia twice but each time was during periods of *severe* emotional stress & I was barely eating, let alone taking any supplements then.
This is the end of the thread.
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