20 February 2012
According to a newly published literature review, magnesium supplements may offer small but clinically significant reductions in blood pressure.
To evaluate the effect of magnesium on blood pressure, the meta-analysis included data from 22 trials invol-ving 1,173 participants (1). Daily magnesium supplementation ranged from 120 to 973 mg in trials that lasted between three and 24 weeks. The overall data indicated that magnesium supplementation was associated with a 3 to 4 mmHg reduction in systolic blood pressure and a 2-3 mmHg reduction in diastolic blood pressure, with the best results observed for doses over 370 mg per day.
The researchers commented that magnesium supplementation appears to achieve a small but clinically significant reduction in blood pressure, which is worth investigating in future prospective large randomized controlled trials.
Hypertension, which characterizes having a systolic and diastolic blood pressure over 140 and 90 mmHg, is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, causing almost 50% of the deaths in Europe. Data from phar-maceutical trials has revealed that a reduction in systolic blood pressure of between 0.8 and 2 mmHg was clinically significant in reducing the incidence of coronary heart disease, heart failure and stroke. Another recent study, based on data pooled from seven prospective studies, revealed that the risk of stroke was reduced by about 9% for every daily 100 mg increase in magnesium intake (2).
16 February 2015
A new study from Turkey suggests that children with insufficient blood vitamin D concentrations seem to have a higher risk suffering from urinary tract infections.
7 August 2009
A supplement containing lutein, zeaxanthin and blackcurrant extract may reverse signs of visual fatigue, according to a study from Japan.
1 January 2016
It is a universal wish of parents around the globe that their children should sleep longer, deeper and wake as little as possible. There is growing evidence that good sleep is important for the child’s mental development. This article will examine whether simple nutritional intervention, for example with foods high in marine omega-3 fatty acids, B vitamins or tryptophan can improve children’s sleep.
