DEAR DR. GOTT: I am trying to get my husband and I off some of our supplements. I started him on folic acid several years ago after reading about how it reduces homocysteine levels. My doctor didn’t see the need to order a level, so we started on it prophylactically. Is there a need to take it from your viewpoint? Also, what about magnesium? We started on that also for back pain prevention.
Once you start these things, one becomes paranoid about getting off of them for fear we will be missing out on something that might be helping us.
My husband is on pravastatin and has great cholesterol numbers but has a family history (maternal uncle) of heart disease. I did read somewhere that magnesium can cause heart blocks and prolonged QT intervals. (I’m not sure about the significance of that one).
Thank you for any insight you give us.
DEAR READER: Folic acid is a water-soluble B vitamin that the body needs in order to manufacture red blood cells, thus preventing anemia and to allow the bowel to absorb nutrients properly. It should not be started or discontinued without the advice of your physician.
You are correct that folic acid may decrease your risk of cardiovascular disease. Homocysteine levels may be lower in those individuals on folic acid.
A simple way around taking a supplement is to include orange and tomato juice, bananas, melons, spinach, broccoli, okra, legumes, asparagus, lettuce, as well as organ meats such as liver and kidney in your diet regimen. Since 1998 Federal law has mandated that folic acid also be added to pasta, breads, cookies and crackers, cold cereal, and more.
Side effects from the drug can include rash, redness, itching, and difficulty breathing. Your physician should be informed should this occur.
The RDA for dietary folate in adults is 400 mcg per day for both men and women. The supplement may be recommended to help with memory loss, ulcerative colitis, anemia, alcoholism, Alzheimer’s disease, osteoporosis, restless legs syndrome, depression, and nerve and muscle pain. Women who are pregnant or are trying to become pregnant will likely be prescribed folic acid to reduce the risk of miscarriage and neural tube defects.
On to magnesium which is the fourth most abundant mineral in the body. It helps maintain normal muscle and nerve function, supports a healthy immune system, helps regulate blood sugar levels, keeps bones strong, and promotes normal blood pressure levels. It is found in spinach, peas, beans, halibut, dry roasted almonds, baked potatoes with skin, peanut butter, whole unrefined grains, and is even found in drinking water, with higher levels in “hard” water than in “soft”. The RDA for adults 31 years of age and older is 420 mg for men and 320 mg for women.
Early signs of deficiency include nausea, vomiting, fatigue, loss of appetite, and weakness. As the deficiency worsens, muscle contractions, cramping, paresthesias (numbness and tingling of the extremities), seizures, abnormal heart rhythms, and more can be present. Some drugs to include specific diuretics and antibiotics can have an effect on the amount of magnesium in the body. I commend you on your reading material. Magnesium can cause heart block, with the risk increasing in patients who are already on calcium or beta receptor antagonists. Because of your husband’s history, he should speak with his cardiologist to determine if he is on the right track or not.
I recommend when you next visit your physician for an examination that discuss with him or her whether dietary modifications or supplementation might be appropriate. However, if you and your husband eat well-balanced meals to include fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains, I frankly do not feel supplements will be necessary. If you cannot bring yourselves to discontinue the practice you have been living by, or in the case of not being able to eat the proper foods, why not simply switch to a good one-a-day vitamin that will include these two supplements plus a whole lot more?
Readers who are interested in related information can order my Health Report “Vitamins and Minerals” by sending a self-addressed, stamped number 10 envelope and a $2 US check or money order payable to Dr. Peter Gott, PO Box 433, Lakeville, CT 06039-0433 Be sure to mention the title when writing or print out an order form from my website www.AskDrGottMD.com.
