Menopause, a natural biological process, begins when the ovaries slow down their production of eggs. This leads to fewer and infrequent menstrual cycles until they permanently stop. Decreased ovarian function also results in diminished estrogen and progesterone production. Low estrogen and progesterone levels are the primary cause of menopausal symptoms, including hot flashes, mood swings and night sweats. In addition to traditional treatments, magnesium supplementation can provide relief from menopausal symptoms and related complications.
Magnesium Functions
The National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements reports that magnesium is a necessary component in over 300 biochemical processes in the body. Magnesium supports the immune system; maintains normal muscle and nerve function; contributes to energy production and regulates blood pressure, blood sugar and calcium levels. During menopause, magnesium levels tend to decrease, which can lead to deficiency complications.
Hormone Replacement Therapy
Estrogen replacement therapy remains as the most effective treatment for menopausal symptoms, but many women are reluctant to take estrogen due to its associated risks, which include breast cancer, heart attacks, strokes and blood clots. However, close medical supervision helps manage these risks. Hormone replacement therapy can also help prevent the loss of magnesium associated with menopause, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Hot Flashes
Hot flashes are among the most commonly reported menopause symptoms. You may experience warmth across your upper body and face, a rapid heartbeat, blotchy skin and perspiration. As of June 2011, there is no scientific evidence that directly links magnesium to hot flash cessation, but several menopause websites cite women who report relief from hot flashes after taking magnesium supplements. Furthermore, there has been enough preliminary evidence of magnesium as an effective treatment to fund a phase II clinical trial to determine the effect of magnesium oxide on hot flashes.
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis, the thinning of bone tissue and loss of bone density, is a serious complication of menopause due to the decrease in estrogen. Calcium and vitamin D are often prescribed to manage osteoporosis, but health care experts have recently recognized the importance of magnesium in the prevention of menopausal bone loss. Magnesium deficiency adversely affects calcium metabolism, according to the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements. As such, your physician may suggest magnesium supplementation in addition to calcium and vitamin D to help prevent osteoporosis.
References
- PubMed Health: Menopause; September 11, 2010
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Magnesium; June 25, 2009
- National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements: Magnesium; July 13, 2009
- MayoClinic.com: Hot Flashes; June 11, 2011
- Journal of Clinical Oncology: Magnesium Supplements for Menopausal Hot Flashes; Thomas J. Smith; March 1, 2009
- National Institutes of Health Clinical Trials: Magnesium Oxide in Treating Hot Flashes in Menopausal Women With Cancer
