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Magnesium...can it cause problems with Crohn's?

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Posted 12/9/2009 8:42 PM (GMT 0)
Hello all.  I am newly diagnosed, and have not had D but instead, constipation.  A naturopath told me to take a Magnesium supplement to get things moving.  However, I have had more gas since starting this.  I don't want to take anything that makes the symptoms of my Crohn's worse!  Any experiences or knowledge about how magnesium can interact with Crohn's would be helpful. 

Thanks!

Posted 12/9/2009 10:32 PM (GMT 0)
Magnesium caused diarrhea in both my daughter (has Crohn's) and myself (don't have Crohn's. )

She didn't test low in magnesium, so we got rid of the supplement (it was calcium/vitd/mag) because the mag seemed dicey.

The homemade yogurt seemed to provide the best help for her, in getting rid of constipation...she is a Crohnie who never had D, just had C.  

Posted 12/10/2009 12:23 AM (GMT 0)
What kind of magnesium is it? I think I read once that citrate and chelate is the best.
Posted 12/10/2009 12:39 AM (GMT 0)
I don't know if actually interferes with Crohn's itself but it can cause diarrhea, I take it sometimes to help with restless legs but I take it at night and not too often as I'm aware it can make diarrhea worse which I REALLY do not need!
Posted 12/10/2009 2:32 PM (GMT 0)
Magnesium citrate, while fairly effective, is used as a laxative, and so can cause D.

According to the following link, the chelated forms are more expensive but best, causing fewer side effects:

magnesium potassium aspartate

chelated magnesium

magnesium glycinate

magnesium malate

http://www.easy-immune-health.com/magnesium-dosage.html

The kind I took, magnesium aspartate, caused D. Don't know what kind my daughter took. The magnesium oxide is supposed to be the least effective.

 

Posted 12/10/2009 9:47 PM (GMT 0)
I was told when I first got CD that I should stay away from Rolaids because it used Magnesium which was bad.  I have noticed that Magnesium sterate can give me bad symptoms so I tried to avoid it.

Posted 12/11/2009 1:25 AM (GMT 0)
My magnesium level gets low whenever I have extended periods of diarrhea. The low levels cause me to have intense internal muscle spasma in my legs and ankles. I also throw a lot of PVCs [premature ventricular contractions] when my magnesium is low. I was told that magnesium chloride is the most easily absorbed and utilized by the body. I use a product called Slow-Mag. It also contains calcium that helps counteract the tendency to cause diarrhea.

Magnesium taken in large amounts will cause diarrhea.
Posted 12/11/2009 4:40 AM (GMT 0)
Magnesium can promote loose bowels, which may be a problem for someone who is already tending that way. It is advisable to take it in combination with calcium which has the opposite effect. Taken together, the two should balance each other's effects. If you still have problems with it, you should take more calcium on top (at the same time). Magnesium is an essential mineral and required for balanced electrolytes. Unbalanced electrolytes cause muscle spasms, heart problems and several other potentially life-threatening conditions.
Posted 12/11/2009 4:49 AM (GMT 0)
I took the Bluebonnet magnesium/vitamin D3/calcium combo and it caused D. A few years ago, my daughter took the Pioneer combo and it caused D, too.
Posted 12/11/2009 6:49 AM (GMT 0)
Maybe you are reacting to something else in the pill??? It does not work that way for me.
Posted 12/11/2009 7:39 PM (GMT 0)
I been taking a magnesium supplement, Finest Natural 250mg, one per day, walgreens. It was kinda hard to find the stuff, one bottle of it after going to three stores, or everyone is buying it up, I dunno.

When I was in the hospital they said it was low, and were giving it to me via an IV, along with potassium. My doctor also mentioned to me that it was low, so I added it to the mix. I dunno what magnesium does for you, I have not noticed any side affects from taking it.
Posted 12/18/2009 11:41 PM (GMT 0)
My son's symptoms were C as well and long before he was diagnosed, we treated the C with magnesium supplements and colace.  It would work for a while but it wasn't always effective.  The C caused fissures which are very painful and nothing we did ever really worked long term.  After his diagnosis, he started Pentasa and multi-vitamins and assortment of supplements.  He is no longer taking separate magnesium supplements although small amounts are in his multi-vitamin.  His stools are normal for the first time in a very long time and the fissures were healed within weeks.   I believe its the Pentasa that finally did the trick. 
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