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Is Magnesium a Miracle Nutrient?

A new form of magnesium supplementation, magnesium ATP, is likely to enhance the benefits of magnesium in heart patients. ATP (adenosine triphosphate) is the high-energy molecule used throughout the body. In the damaged or failing heart there is a loss of magnesium and ATP, which dramatically reduces the heart's energy supply—and thus its ability to function.

ATP can be "complexed" with magnesium, and given slowly, intravenously. The complex appears capable of crossing into heart cells, and replenishing these lost energy stores in such a manner that the heart more or less "jump starts" to a higher level of function. An intravenous infusion in normal humans caused an increase in cardiac output of 131 percent without increasing blood pressure.

In Japan, a country much more open to innovation with nutritional therapy, magnesium ATP is being used for acute kidney and liver failure. There are very preliminary reports that magnesium ATP is beneficial in the treatment of angina.

“Ron,” a 58-year-old lawyer under treatment in my office for heart disease and angina pectoris, was receiving diet and chelation therapy with gradual results. However, one weekend he had two quite significant attacks of angina pectoris. He was given a slow infusion of magnesium ATP, and reported that for the next four days he was more comfortable and pain-free than he had been in years. This has also been the experience of other physicians who have used this substance in a small number of patients. While it is certainly not conclusive proof of benefit, it is more than encouraging.

It is not surprising that magnesium and the high-energy bond ATP are so intimately linked. Magnesium is known to be essential in 325 different enzymatic reactions that require or produce energy. A deficiency of magnesium in any one of these reactions could stimulate a domino effect, thus facilitating or even causing disease. Likewise, magnesium, if given intramuscularly or intravenously, may be a safe pharmacologic way to rapidly stimulate energy production, and this is particularly important in patients with heart pain or a failing heart.

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