An Advanced Formulation of a Magnesium Dietary Supplement Adapted for a Long-Term Use Supplementation Improves Magnesium Bioavailability: In Vitro and Clinical Comparative Studies

Characterization of AZ31/HA Biodegradable Metal Matrix Composites Manufactured by Rapid Microwave Sintering

This study reports the development of magnesium alloy/hydroxyapatite-based biodegradable metal matrix composites (BMMCs) through rapid microwave sintering. Magnesium alloy (AZ31) and hydroxyapatite powder were used in four compositions 0, 10, 15 and 20% by weight. Developed BMMCs were characterized to evaluate physical, microstructural, mechanical and biodegradation characteristics. XRD results show Mg and HA as major phases and MgO as a minor phase. SEM results correlate with the XRD findings by identifying the presence of Mg, HA and MgO. The addition of HA powder particles reduced density and increased the microhardness of BMMCs. The compressive strength and Young's modulus increased with increasing HA up to 15 wt.%. AZ31-15HA exhibited the highest corrosion resistance and lowest relative weight loss in the immersion test for 24 h and weight gain after 72 and 168 h due to the deposition of Mg(OH)₂ and Ca(OH)₂ layers at the sample surface. XRD analysis of the AZ31-15HA sintered sample after an immersion test was carried out and these results revealed the presence of new phases Mg(OH)₂ and Ca(OH)₂ that could be the reason for enhancing the corrosion resistance. SEM elemental mapping result also confirmed the formation of Mg(OH)₂ and Ca(OH)₂ at the sample surface, which acted as protective layers and prevented the sample from further corrosion. It showed that the elements were uniformly distributed over the sample surface. In addition, these microwave-sintered BMMCs showed similar properties to the human cortical bone and help bone growth by depositing apatite layers at the surface of the sample. Furthermore, this apatite layer can enhance osteoblast formation due to the porous structure type, which was observed in the BMMCs. Therefore, it is indicative that developed BMMCs can be an artificial biodegradable composite for orthopedic applications.

Dietary supplements could prevent cardiometabolic syndrome: Are they safe and reliable enough for disease prevention and health promotion?

Dietary supplements (DS) and their purchase is often based on a consumer's personal choice and advertisements. The associated DS regulations, particularly in manufacturing and marketing, are far more flexible and permissive than that of the well-regulated prescription pharmaceuticals. However, the adverse health effects associated with the inadvertent use of mega-doses of DS are not well understood. The demand for DS, nutraceuticals, and herbal remedies has experienced an upswing during the past two to three decades, and global product sales have thrived. More so, the prevention of cardiometabolic syndrome (CMS) and related disorders like diabetes mellitus, obesity, hypertension, and serum lipid abnormalities, as well as of other noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), is of highest health care priority globally, since these disorders impose very high economic burdens on health care systems and society. In this review, we argue why DS could prevent cardiometabolic syndrome, by providing the potential benefits and risks associated with them, especially self-medication considering their intake by the public at large. Good manufacturing practices and quality control are absolutely necessary for the manufacture of DS products, and proper labeling is needed regarding the optimal dose schedules of various DS and bioactive ingredients. Specific examples are used to underscore the indications and dosage recommendations made for the marketing and promotion of fish oil, coenzyme Q10, and Mg-containing products for the prevention of cardiometabolic syndrome.

Short-Term Magnesium Therapy Alleviates Moderate Stress in Patients with Fibromyalgia: A Randomized Double-Blind Clinical Trial

Patients suffering from fibromyalgia often report stress and pain, with both often refractory to usual drug treatment. Magnesium supplementation seems to improve fibromyalgia symptoms, but the level of evidence is still poor. This study is a randomized, controlled, double-blind trial in fibromyalgia patients that compared once a day oral magnesium 100 mg (Chronomag®, magnesium chloride technology formula) to placebo, for 1 month. The primary endpoint was the level of stress on the DASS-42 scale, and secondary endpoints were pain, sleep, quality of life, fatigue, catastrophism, social vulnerability, and magnesium blood concentrations. After 1 month of treatment, the DASS-42 score decreased in the magnesium and placebo groups but not significantly (21.8 ± 9.6 vs. 21.6 ± 10.8, respectively, p = 0.930). Magnesium supplementation significantly reduced the mild/moderate stress subgroup (DASS-42 stress score: 22.1 ± 2.8 to 12.3 ± 7.0 in magnesium vs. 21.9 ± 11.9 to 22.9 ± 11.9 in placebo, p = 0.003). Pain severity diminished significantly (p = 0.029) with magnesium while the other parameters were not significantly different between both groups. These findings show, for the first time, that magnesium improves mild/moderate stress and reduces the pain experience in fibromyalgia patients. This suggests that daily magnesium could be a useful treatment to improve the burden of disease of fibromyalgia patients and calls for a larger clinical trial.

Effect of calcium and magnesium on inflammatory cytokines in accidentally multiple fracture adults: A short-term follow-up

Calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg), which play an important role in several cellular processes, is essential for normal development of the skeleton and maintenance of tissue homeostasis. Deficiency of these elements might delay bone fracture recovery or accelerates bone loss. We aimed to examine whether supplementation of trace element (TE) promotes fracture healing in accidentally fracturing adults by involvement of inflammatory mechanism.A short-term follow-up in clinic was performed. Totally, 117 subjects diagnosed with multiple fractures by traffic accidents were recruited in this study. Serum Ca and Mg levels were measured by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrophotometry. Short-term changes such as serum C-reactive protein, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor alpha in normal treatment and TE supplement groups were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Student t test and the Spearman correlation were performed to analyze the data.Significantly negative correlations between Ca (r = 0.7032; P < .001) and Mg (r = 0.2719; P < .05) and injury severity score were observed. Serum Ca and Mg were significantly increased at Day 5, 7, and 9 following TE supplements. After treatment, serum C-reactive protein, IL-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor alpha were significantly reduced whereas cytokine levels of the TE supplement group were found to be lower than that of the normal treatment group after Day 3.These findings suggest that Ca and Mg levels are associated with the injury severity of multiple fractures, and the supplement could reduce the inflammation, which may be beneficial for the bone recovery and disease process.

Bioavailability of magnesium food supplements: A systematic review

OBJECTIVES

The market for food supplements is booming thanks to their increased consumption. European regulations include different ways in which vitamins and minerals are administered, without making it clear to the consumer whether one formulation has advantages over the other. The aim of this review was to compare the bioavailability of different forms of magnesium and analyze the differences between them.

METHODS

Based on a PICO (population, intervention, comparison, outcome) research question, a search strategy was established for magnesium bioavailability studies comparing different forms in the PubMed, Cochrane, Web of Science, and Scopus databases. We found 433 studies, out of which 14 were finally selected.

RESULTS

Inorganic formulations appear to be less bioavailable than organic ones, and the percentage of absorption is dose dependent.

CONCLUSIONS

All magnesium dietary supplements can maintain physiological levels in healthy people without prior deficit, although this cannot be assured in older people or those with illnesses or previous subphysiological levels.

Magnesium for Pain Treatment in 2021? State of the Art

Background: Magnesium (Mg) is commonly used in clinical practice for acute and chronic pain and has been reported to reduce pain intensity and analgesics consumption in a number of studies. Results are, however, contested. Objectives: This review aims to investigate randomised clinical trials (RCTs) on the effectiveness of Mg treatment on pain and analgesics consumption in situations including post-operative pain, migraine, renal pain, chronic pain, neuropathic pain and fibromyalgia. Results: The literature search identified 81 RCTs (n = 5447 patients) on Mg treatment in pain (50 RCTs in post-operative pain, 18 RCTs in migraine, 5 RCTs in renal pain, 6 RCTs in chronic/neuropathic pain, 2 RCTs in fibromyalgia). Conclusion: The level of evidence for the efficacy of Mg in reducing pain and analgesics consumption is globally modest and studies are not very numerous in chronic pain. A number of gaps have been identified in the literature that need to be addressed especially in methodology, rheumatic disease, and cancer. Additional clinical trials are needed to achieve a sufficient level of evidence and to better optimize the use of Mg for pain and pain comorbidities in order to improve the quality of life of patients who are in pain.

'Magnesium'-the master cation-as a drug-possibilities and evidences

Magnesium (Mg²⁺) is the 2nd most abundant intracellular cation, which participates in various enzymatic reactions; there by regulating vital biological functions. Magnesium (Mg²⁺) can regulate several cations, including sodium, potassium, and calcium; it consequently maintains physiological functions like impulse conduction, blood pressure, heart rhythm, and muscle contraction. But, it doesn't get much attention in account with its functions, making it a "Forgotten cation". Like other cations, maintenance of the normal physiological level of Mg²⁺ is important. Its deficiency is associated with various diseases, which point out to the importance of Mg²⁺ as a drug. The roles of Mg²⁺ such as natural calcium antagonist, glutamate NMDA receptor blocker, vasodilator, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent are responsible for its therapeutic benefits. Various salts of Mg²⁺ are currently in clinical use, but their application is limited. This review collates all the possible mechanisms behind the behavior of magnesium as a drug at different disease conditions with clinical shreds of evidence.

Amelioration of Cd-Induced Oxidative Stress, MT Gene Expression, and Immune Damage by Vitamin C in Grass Carp Kidney Cells

Cadmium (Cd) is the most common heavy metal and is easily detected in aquatic environments on a global scale. Vitamin C was a widely used vitamin in aquaculture. The aim of this study was to explore the potential of vitamin C in ameliorating Cd-induced toxicity in grass carp kidney (CIK) cells. Cell viability, oxidative response, metallothionein (MT), and immune-related gene expression was analyzed in the present study. The results show that cell viability was significantly reduced following Cd exposure, but the vitamin C supplementation attenuated the increased in cell viability. In addition, vitamin C supplementation can increase the antioxidation response and MT and immune-related gene expression. These results indicate that vitamin C has the potential to alleviate the effects of Cd toxicity in CIK cells.

Effect of Toxic Metal Binding on Tax-Interacting Protein1 (TIP1): A Protein Related to Brain Diseases

Human tax-interacting protein1 (TIP1), also known as glutaminase-interacting protein (GIP), is a small globular protein containing a PDZ domain. PDZ domains are the most common protein-protein interaction modules present in eukaryotes. In humans, TIP1 plays a very important role in many cellular pathways including β-catenin-mediated Wnt signaling, Rho-activator rhotekin-mediated Rho signaling pathway, and glutamate signaling pathway for the normal activity of the central nervous system. TIP1 also regulates potassium channel expression in the plasma membrane and is a binding partner to many proteins including viral oncoproteins, HTLV-1 Tax and HPV16 E6. Since TIP1 is at a pivotal point in many cellular processes through its interaction with a growing list of partner proteins, any impact on the proper functioning of this protein can have severe consequences on the well-being of a living system. Although metals are essential for plants and animals in trace amounts, elevated levels of heavy metals such as arsenic, cadmium, zinc, and lead are toxic causing various health problems including cardiovascular disorders, neuronal damage, renal injuries, and cancer. Here, we report the effect of heavy metals, arsenic and cadmium, on TIP1 conformation using circular dichroism and fluorescence spectroscopy techniques. Our study revealed these metals have a significant impact on the structure of TIP1 even at very low levels.