It’s not unusual for a health condition to be related to a nutritional deficiency or overdose. However, the relation between your diet and health can get lost in translation as the information travels from the original research and health providers to the general public. Research suggests that magnesium, for example, might have an effect on hot flashes and resulting night sweats. This does not mean it can cure night sweats in everyone, however.
Hot Flashes
Whether magnesium deficiency is responsible for night sweats in general isn’t known. The University of Maryland Medical Center notes the converse is true, as sweating depletes magnesium. Columbia University says a “dietary imbalance” of magnesium could contribute to excessive sweating in general, but research is lacking. However, magnesium supplementation may play a role in postmenopausal hot flashes in women who have had breast cancer, including those that occur at night and prevent women from sleeping. Research is preliminary, and this effect was actually noticed by accident in two women who began taking magnesium for other reasons.
Discovery
A letter from a doctor at the Massey Cancer Center in Virginia, published in the March 2009 issue of the “Journal of Clinical Oncology,” reported that the author had seen two patients who, at that time, had breast cancer. Both were suffering from severe hot flashes that were preventing them from getting adequate sleep. One woman had taken magnesium as part of the preparation for a colonoscopy, and the other started taking it as part of a weight loss regimen suggested on a TV show. Both women reported fewer hot flashes, with the first dropping from 24 severe hot flashes per day to about four mild hot flashes, and the second reported a drop of about 50 percent, with the remaining hot flashes being mild.
Follow-Up Study
A subsequent research study from Virginia Commonwealth University, presented at the 2010 meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, found nearly 75 percent of subjects taking different doses of magnesium experienced at least a 25-percent drop in hot flashes. This does not mean that magnesium prevents night sweats in everyone, including men, however.
Maca
One more possible connection between magnesium and sweating has to do with the mineral profile of maca, or Lepidium peruvianum, an herb from Peru. Most maca in South America is L. meyendii, but L. peruvianum is considered the medical-use version of the plant that might alleviate menopause symptoms. The American Botanical Council notes maca has “high concentrations” of magnesium along with several other minerals and vitamins. A review in the December 2008/January 2009 issue of the journal “Integrative Medicine” claims the author has seen “a remarkable reduction” in hot flashes in her patients. A 2006 study published in the “International Journal of Biomedical Science” found a commercial maca preparation did reduce menopause symptoms in subjects, especially hot flashes. However, the toxicity of the herb is still under investigation, and the effect on hot flashes may be due to more than just the magnesium levels. Speak to your doctor before trying any herbal preparations or adding supplements to ensure you are using a dose that will not harm you.
References
- “Journal of Clinical Oncology”; Magnesium Supplements for Menopausal Hot Flashes; T. Smith
- ASCO.org: Effect of Oral Magnesium on Hot Flashes in Breast Cancer Survivors
- Columbia University: What Can I Do About My Strong Body Odor
- UMM.edu: Magnesium
- “Toxicological Reviews”; Toxicological Aspects of the South American Herbs Cat's Claw (Uncaria Tomentosa) and Maca (Lepidium Meyenii) : a Critical Synopsis; LG Valerio Jr. et al.
- “Integrative Medicine”; Maca: New Insights on an Ancient Plant; T Hudson
- American Botanical Council: Herb Clip
- “International Journal of Biomedical Science”; Hormone-Balancing Effect of Pre-Gelatinized Organic
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