Hi Everyone, I'm just wondering if anyone has heard of this. I'm 4 1/2 weeks out of treatment. During treatment, my magnesium and potassium levels became low, so my MO prescribed supplements for each. I asked him yesterday how long I should continue to take these and he said indefinitely. I forgot to ask, but as far as I know all my blood levels were ok when last checked. Has anyone else ever heard of this?

Hi, Mike,
I ended up being hospitalized because my potassium and magnesium levels were so low. If you can keep them under control with supplements, that's great! I would do whatever your docs recommend.

Generally speaking due to the relationship between Magnesium and Potassium, when you have a Magnesium deficiency it will cause a Potassium deficiency as well, it's the way the body works.

I''m surprised he had you supplement potassium as it's fairly easy to get sufficient amounts from your diet and will rise when you address the magnesium deficiency, have him check into it, but I'm right Magnesium on the other hand can be a bit trickier to maintain proper levels dietarily, which is why it's often supplemented especially by athletes and bodybuilders due to it's relationship with muscle and nerve function.

With a magnesium deficiency you'll want to increase the amount of these magnesium rich foods in your diet as with any vitamin or mineral your body absorbs them easier through dietary sources than by supplements as those isolated supplements have to be manipulated (usually combined with Croscarmellose Sodium) to get them to be absorbed through the intestine and increase bioavailability. Sadly due to this combination the majority of the supplement is processed as a toxin in your body and passed.

Bran (rice, wheat and oat), Squash, pumpkins, cacao (dark chocolate), flax, sesame, and brazil nuts are all excellent sources of magnesium. Magnesium should be consumed in the evening and to "push" absorption you'll want to supplement Vitamin B6 as it triggers the body to absorb magnesium over calcium, which vie for absorption. Adversely Vitamin D is the trigger for your body to absorb Calcium over Magnesium which is why it's often added to milk.


Hope that helps, let me know if I can be of further assistance

Eric

Thank you both for the helpful info

I think it was the potassium supplement that fizzes up wildly? Lord I had a hard time getting that down!. I was put on supplements all through both rounds of rad tx, but I believe I was able to drop them within a year. Check with your doctor in a bit - he/she may change their minds.

Donna