PSA is an abbreviation for prostate-specific antigen, a prostate gland protein normally found in low levels in men's bloodstreams. Elevations in PSA levels can potentially indicate the presence of cancerous or non-cancerous changes in prostate tissue. Magnesium is a mineral that your body needs to support normal function in all of your organs. The presence of magnesium in your body doesn't have an effect on your PSA levels.
PSA Basics
In addition to prostate cancer, conditions associated with heightened levels of PSA in the bloodstream include benign prostatic hyperplasia, also called an enlarged prostate, and prostate inflammation, also called prostatitis. As men grow older, their chances for developing any of these conditions increases. PSA blood tests are used to detect changes in prostate function as soon as possible. However, the results of a PSA test don't indicate whether or not you have a specific prostate problem. Rather, they help your doctor determine further courses of action in protecting your prostate-related health.
Causes of PSA Changes
Apart from cancer, an enlarged prostate or prostate inflammation, the American Association for Clinical Chemistry's Lab Tests Online lists several factors that can affect your PSA levels. They include bicycling and certain other forms of vigorous physical activity, prostate gland infection, semen ejaculation, large doses of certain chemotherapy medications, a digital rectal examination and physical manipulation of the prostate during a biopsy or a surgical procedure called a resection. Depending on the specific cause, PSA elevation from these sources can last anywhere from 24 hours to six weeks or longer.
Magnesium Effects
There are no harmful effects associated with the magnesium you obtain from food sources, Oregon State University's Linus Pauling Institute reports. If you take too much supplemental magnesium in laxative or antacid preparations, or from any other source, you can develop diarrhea. You can also develop elevated blood levels of the mineral, which in turn can lead to the onset of low blood pressure, breathing difficulties and muscle weakness. If you develop severe low blood pressure, you may experience additional symptoms that include confusion, lethargy, deterioration of normal kidney function and heartbeat irregularities. If you have very high blood levels of magnesium, you can go into cardiac arrest.
Considerations
Men naturally experience elevations in their PSA levels as they age, according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Laboratories that perform PSA testing have somewhat varying criteria for assessing PSA changes. In addition, many men with the same level of PSA elevation have significantly different states of prostate health. For these reasons, the NCI explains, no specific level of PSA can be definitively defined as normal or abnormal. Roughly half of the men with elevated PSA levels during one testing procedure have lower PSA levels during subsequent testing. Consult your doctor for more information on PSA testing and the potential consequences of magnesium use.
