8 replies to this topic

[osris]

Is there a link between Alzheimer's and zinc and magnesium?

 

There seems to be a lot of confusion around this subject, with some people saying that zinc and magnesium are implicated in Alzheimer's, while others saying that they are not. I can’t find any scientific information that comes to a definite conclusion about this. 

 

Does anyone know anything about this? And should I stop taking zinc and magnesium supplements to be on the safe side?

[Daniel Cooper]

If you simply look at individual studies, there seems to be at least one that links Alzheimer's with pretty much anything you can come up with.

 

Is there a link demonstrated by the preponderance of the available studies?  Not that I've seen.

 

 

 

[osris]

I hope you're right, but see:

 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.../pubmed/9164672

 

which seems to say that zinc can be both good and bad for Alzheimer's

 

And this one

 

https://www.medicaln...cles/319481.php

 

on how magnesium can be both good and bad for it.

 

It's confusing.

 

[recon]

This is certainly a very valid concern considering both zinc and magnesium being very popular supplements. Aided by advancements in formulations, we now have those with greater bioavailable than before, such as Zinc Monomethionine and Magnesium L-Threonate.

[graatch]

So in the alzheimer's brain you'll often see both large deposits and excessive signalling (ionic) of not only zinc and magnesium but iron (the potential neurotoxic effects of which are well known), aluminum which normally is removed, and other minerals and metals. The best idea is that this comes from dyshomeostasis of said substances; the brain has been damaged to the extent it can no longer effectively clear said minerals, its cleaning processes break down. Zinc in *excess* can help beta-amyloid aggregate or I should say further aggregate; zinc is also "important in axonal and synaptic transmission and is necessary for nucleic acid metabolism and brain tubulin growth and phosphorylation".

 

Thinking practically, don't take too much of any mineral. With zinc we do know that the range within which supplementation seems to improve things like blood sugar control (instead of worsening them) is very slim; dosing 30mg daily may be too much for most people particularly if copper isn't supplemented as well.

Edited by graatch, 26 December 2019 - 06:36 AM.

[Mind]

From a higher level view, it is usually unwise to take larger doses of any supplement, nutrient, or mineral. Everything has a dose-response curve. The human psyche is prone to think "more is better". When it comes to health, this is almost never the case. There is a lot of research over the course of decades indicating that "mega-dosing" is negative for health and increases mortality rates.

 

https://www.longecit...han-good/page-1

Edited by Mind, 26 December 2019 - 10:07 PM.

[pamojja]

From a higher level view, it is usually unwise to take larger doses of any supplement, nutrient, or mineral. Everything has a dose-response curve.

 

Which is of course on the population level. On an individual level it is easy enough to access mineral status with laboratory testing (serum for zinc, RBC for magnesium) and supplement accordingly. If taking a population-level response courve as guidance, one is bound take too much and too little in different individuals.

[Mind]

Which is of course on the population level. On an individual level it is easy enough to access mineral status with laboratory testing (serum for zinc, RBC for magnesium) and supplement accordingly. If taking a population-level response courve as guidance, one is bound take too much and too little in different individuals.

 

Agreed! It varies by individual and there are instances where therapeutic doses can correct a deficiency.

[osris]

Seeing as the jury is still out on whether zinc and magnesium cause or contribute to Alzheimer's, I'll avoid both to be on the safe side.