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« The Incredible Shrinking Geriatricians | Main | The ProAging Network »

March 25, 2008 |Permalink |Comments (0)

Gallstones and Magnesium

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An interesting study, just out shows that men who increase their dietary intake of Magnesium (a mineral) cut their risk of developing symptoms related to gallstones.

Consumption of a diet rich in magnesium appears to reduce the risk of symptomatic gallstone disease, according to findings from a US study of over 42,000 men.

Dietary consumption of magnesium has been declining over the years, lead author Dr. Chung-Jyi Tsai and colleagues note, due in part to the overprocessing of foods.

Magnesium deficiency is known to cause elevated triglyceride levels and decreased HDL cholesterol levels, both of which may raise the risk of gallstones. Still, the long-term effect of magnesium consumption level on the risk of gallstones in humans was not known.

Honestly, I think that this is the payoff paragraph.

"From many studies by this group and others, it appears that a generally healthy dietary pattern, with more plant-based foods, fiber, and increasing complex carbohydrates, and now increasing magnesium intake will decrease the risk of symptomatic gallstones and cholecystectomy," Dr. Cynthia W. Ko, from the University of Washington in Seattle, writes in an accompanying editorial. "This 'healthy' dietary pattern will also help in prevention of other chronic diseases in addition to gallstones."

This is the kind of research that I like and respect. Too many people are taking too many supplements that have never been adequately studied. I agree with the dictum...

There is no such thing as "alternative medicine."

There is medicine that works and medicine that does not work.

As for me, I prefer medicine that works.

The citation for this article is...

Am J Gastroenterol. 2008;103:375-382.

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