Role of Magnesium in Blood Sugar Management

In a recent study (Guerrero-Romero. 2011) a group of scientists from the Research Group on Diabetes and Chronic Illnesses from Durango, Mexico, investigated the effect of oral supplementation with magnesium chloride (MgCl(2) ) on "the ability of beta-cells to compensate for variations in insulin sensitivity in [52; placebo + treatment] non-diabetic individual". Obviously, we hear it over and over that 'magnesium is the fourth most abundant mineral in the human body', it is vital, etc., etc. - studies showing real life benefits from oral supplementation are however relatively scarce. Unfortunately, there is one caveat with this study, as well. Guerrero-Romero et al. deliberately selected only those subjects with "significant [magnesium levels ≤0·70 mM/L] hypomagnesaemia, i.e. low magnesium levels.

There were no serious adverse events or side effects because of MgCl(2) or placebo. At the beginning of the study, the AUC of the HMbCF was similar in both groups (AUC = 7·591 and 7·895 cm(2) ); at the end of follow-up, the curve of the MgCl(2) group showed a hyperbolic distribution (AUC = 18·855 cm(2) ), whereas in the placebo group, there were no changes (AUC = 7·631 cm(2) ).

So, while the above results are encouraging and back the notion that adequate magnesium intake is a necessary prerequisite for healthy blood sugar management, we do not know whether or not supplemental magnesium would render the pancreatic beta-cells of people with adequate magnesium levels even more effective - or in other words, if the common use of magnesium supplements among people with an already healthy diet is not simply a waste of monetary resources.

Oral ATP Supplementation Proves Completely Ineffective Even at Very High Doses

I think most supplement companies have hitherto given up on convincing you of the use of oral ATP supplements. About 2 month ago, I did however notice a new "high dosed" product (I cannot remember the figures out of my head, but the daily dose was far below 1.000mg) was released to be bought by the in-educated public ;-)

Just to discourage you from wasting your money on any such products, here is a very recent study (Coolen. 2010) on the futility of attempting to rise ATP levels via oral supplementation:

Thirty-two healthy subjects were randomised to receive 0, 250, 1250 or 5000 mg ATP per d for 28 d by means of enteric-coated pellets. In addition, on days 0 and 28, all thirty-two subjects received 5000 mg ATP to determine whether prolonged administration would induce adaptations in the bioavailability of ATP. ATP supplementation for 4 weeks did not lead to changes in blood or plasma ATP concentrations. Of all ATP metabolites, only plasma uric acid levels increased significantly after the administration of 5000 mg of ATP.

If you are an athlete and really intend to raise ATP levels orally, creatine supplementation (and thus increased ATP resynthesis) would be one way to go.

Potratz on SHR: Grape Fruit Oil for Enhanced Oral Steroid Resorption

Just for those of you who are not yet addicted to the Super Human Channel, i.e. Carl Lenore's radio program on exercise, nutrition and longevity: Wednesday, 15 December 2010, Carl had Eric Potratz from Primordial Performance on the show and talked to him about what could be the future of oral drug/steroid delivery. Although the show certainly smacks of a product pimpjob, the general information Potratz provides is scientifically correct.

Audio 1: Super Human Radio - 631 - Oral Hormone Delivery And Bioavailability

Potratz main argument that grape fruit blocks the intestinal esterase, i.e. the removing of the ester attached to a steroid to render it absorbable via the lymphatic system, has been confirmed in several studies. More recently, Li et. al. (Li. 2009) reported:

[..]oral coadministration of GFJ [Grape Fruit Juice] or an esterase inhibitor, bis-(p-nitrophenylphosphate), with the prodrugs led to respective increases in plasma area under the curve by 70% or 57% for enalaprilat and 279% or 141% for lovastatin acid. In addition, portal vein-cannulated rats pretreated with GFJ at –15 and –2 h before lovastatin administration (10 mg/kg p.o.) as a solution, 1) in water and 2) in GFJ, showed, respectively, a 49% increase (CYP3A-inhibited) and a 116% increase (both CYP3A and gut esterase-inhibited) in the portal plasma exposure to the active acid, compared with a non-GFJ pretreatment group. Overall, along with the CYP3A inactivation by GFJ, the decreased esterase activity also played a significant role in increasing the metabolic stability and permeability of esters leading to enhancement of exposure to the active drugs in rats.

Yet, obviously, the claims Potratz makes on a 15x-20x enhanced bioavailability of the "new" esterified designer-prohormones of the Andro Series still have to be confirmed by independent testing. Also, his claim that the specific oil (from the rind of the grape fruit) Primordial will be using is much more potent than the juice itself, seems logical, but has - to my knowledge - not been scientifically investigated, yet. What certainly is false, however, is Carl's ad-hoc calculation of a compound exhibiting a oral bioavailability of 2% suddenly having one of 60%-70% - probably his personal excitement that made him miscalculate ;-)

Are Micronized DHEA and Similar "More Bioavailable" Preparations Worth It?

The scientifically mostly unbacked attention the micronized preparations of DHEA and Pregnenole receive all over the web raised my interest in whether the claims of higher bioavailability are warrantable. It turned out to be difficult to find conclusive answers (apart from the webpages of the producers and retailers, of course ;-), but I came up with the results of a 1996 study on the delivery of micronized preparations of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) to premenopausal women [Casson. 1996]. The researchers conclude:

Micronization increased the area-under-the-curve ratios for dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate/dehydroepiandrosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate/testosterone.

Or in other words: A significantly lower amount of DHEA is converted to androgens, upon administration as a micronized preparation (cf. Fig.3 from Casson. 1996, to the left). The inclusion of a lipid matrix, like some companies have it, may further potentate this effect. However, scientifical validation of this hypothesis, especially in the case of DHEA, appears to be lacking. In spite of that, if your goal is to increase DHEA-S, then micronized preparations are to be preferred over crystalline standard formulas. If you want to boost your androgen levels, regardless of possible downstream effects on estrogen (E) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) you will be better off with the cheaper standard preparations.