Magnesium deficiency linked to a 76 percent higher risk of developing pancreatic cancer

by: | August 5, 2018
Magnesium deficiency linked to a 76 percent higher risk of developing pancreatic cancer
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(NaturalHealth365) Pancreatic cancer – which claims roughly 49,000 lives every year in the United States – is notoriously difficult to detect and treat, conventionally speaking. Sadly, rates of this lethal cancer have been rising steadily over the past ten years, and the National Cancer Society predicts that there will be over 55,000 new cases diagnosed in 2018 alone.  Yet, we know based on published research, that magnesium deficiency can play a role in the development of this dreadful disease.

Fact: magnesium deficiency is common in the United States – with the World Health Organization reporting that less than 60 percent of the American adult population ingests enough of this life-sustaining essential mineral. Let’s take a closer look at some of the ways in which magnesium intake impacts your health – and some methods for increasing levels.

Recent study: Magnesium deficiency cause pancreatic cancer risk to spike dramatically

In “The VITamins and Lifestyle Study (VITAL),” a long-term cohort study published in British Journal of Cancer, researchers examined the relationship between magnesium and pancreatic cancer in a group of participants aged 50 to 76. Of over 66,000 participants, 151 developed pancreatic cancer during the course of the research.

Scientists found that magnesium levels were associated with pancreatic cancer risk, with the odds of the disease rising by 24 percent for every 100 mg decrease in daily magnesium intake.

And, if intakes dropped to less than 75 percent of the recommended daily amount – established by the Institute of Medicine as 420 mg a day for men and 320 mg a day for women – the risk of pancreatic cancer rose by a stunning 76 percent.

Magnesium intake combats insulin resistance and diabetes – along with the risk of pancreatic cancer
Some studies have found that taking supplementary magnesium can improve blood sugar levels and prevent insulin resistance. This is significant because insulin resistance – which impairs the body’s ability to turn glucose into fuel – is associated with a higher risk of pancreatic cancer.

In fact, a shocking 80 percent of people with pancreatic cancer also have either diabetes or some form of glucose intolerance (a prediabetic state of high blood sugar). After a diagnosis of diabetes, the risk of developing pancreatic cancer within three years increases by as much as sevenfold.

Recent studies have highlighted magnesium’s ability to improve glucose control, thereby helping to prevent pancreatic cancer.

One study published in Diabetes Care and involving close to 5,000 participants found that those with the highest intake of magnesium were 47 percent less likely to develop diabetes – an encouraging finding, and one that points up the importance of adequate magnesium intake.

Magnesium deficiencies can trigger a variety of degenerative diseases

Shortfalls of magnesium can also raise the risk of other serious diseases – particularly those that affect an aging population, such as heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease and age-related macular degeneration.

Magnesium deficiencies are also associated with bone loss, stroke, insomnia and restless leg syndrome.
The good news is that increasing magnesium intake shows quantifiable results in lowering the odds of developing these potentially life-threatening conditions.

A 2016 meta-analysis involving 40 different clinical trials found that magnesium intake significantly reduced the risk of stroke, heart failure and type 2 diabetes. The team found that adding 100 mg of magnesium a day was associated with a 22 percent reduction in risk of heart failure – and with a 10 percent reduction in the risk of dying from any cause.

Having optimal amounts of magnesium can not only help prevent serious degenerative diseases, but can also reduce blood pressure, promote healthy sleep, decrease inflammation, improve blood sugar and even lift mood.

Warning: Magnesium levels in soil are declining

Magnesium is needed for over 300 different metabolic processes in the human body, including the contraction of muscles, the transmission of nerve impulses, the building of bone and the synthesis of DNA and protein. Other tasks facilitated by magnesium include metabolizing insulin, regulating blood pressure and producing ATP – the “energy” molecule.

In plants, magnesium is essential for the production of chlorophyll – which is responsible for photosynthesis. Magnesium also ramps up the production of glutathione, a disease-fighting antioxidant that is vital to life in both plants and humans.

Unfortunately, magnesium levels in grains have dropped by an average of almost 20 percent since the advent of the “Green Revolution” in the 1940s through 1960s.

Experts point to the use of modern commercial fertilizers containing nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. These can compete with magnesium for absorption, and create unbalanced nutrition in food crops.

Researchers are currently testing new fertilizers that can increase the magnesium availability in soils – but, is the effort too little, too late? (Only time will tell.)

Healthy dietary intake of magnesium promotes optimal levels

Green, leafy vegetables, legumes and nuts are all excellent sources of magnesium.

Spinach is the champion, however, with 1 cup of cooked leaves providing 157 mg – over a third of the adult daily value. It is followed closely by Swiss chard and beet greens, which also score high in this essential mineral.

Other good sources of magnesium include almonds, avocados, figs, yogurt, dark chocolate and pumpkin seeds. {Obviously, choose organic varieties to avoid unwanted chemicals – as often as possible.)

Supplementary magnesium is available in the form of magnesium citrate. Some proponents advise transdermal magnesium supplementation, accomplished by applying magnesium chloride to the skin.

Of course, check with an experienced integrative physician before supplementing with magnesium to determine what’s best for you.

(The Institute of Medicine lists the tolerable upper limit for supplemental magnesium as 350 mg a day.)
But, when it comes to the possibility of ingesting too much magnesium through dietary sources, no worries – excess dietary magnesium is harmlessly excreted.)

Editor’s note: The NaturalHealth365 Store offers the finest quality magnesium on the market.  Click here to order today.*

*And, yes, your purchases help to support our operations at NaturalHealth365.

Sources for this article include:

LifeExtension.com
NIH.gov
NIH.gov

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