Acta Medica Medianae
Vol. 45
Number 1, Januar, 2006
UDK 61
YU ISSN 0365-4478
Contact:
Slavica Stevanović
JKP ''Naissus''
1/1 Kneginje Ljubice Street
18000 Niš, Serbia and Montenegro
E-mail:sslavica@ptt.yu
Copyright 2006 by Faculty
of Medicine, University of Nis
|
MAGNESIUM, DRINKING WATER HARDNESS AND
CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE
Slavica Stevanovic*
and Dragana Nikic**
JKP ''Naissus'' u Nišu*
Institut za zaštitu zdravlja u Nišu**
Many
different countries suggest and justify an integrated laboratory and
epidemiological research program with an aim to reject or accept the
magnesium – CVD (cardiovascular disease) hypothesis. The studies shown
in this paper that have investigated the relationship between water
hardness, especially magnesium and CVD indicate that, even though there
has been an ongoing research for nearly half a century (1957-2004), it
has not been completed yet. Different study designs (obductional,
clinical, ecological, case-control and cohort) restrict an adequate
comparison of their results as well as the deduction of results
applicable on each territorial level.
The majority of researchers around the world, using populational and
individual studies, have found an inverse (protective) association
between mortality and morbidity from CVD and the increase in water
hardness, especially the increase in the concentration of magnesium. The
most frequent benefit of the water with an optimal mineral composition
is the reduction of mortality from ischemic heart disease.
It was suggested that Mg from water is a supplementary source of Mg of
high biological value, because magnesium from water is absorbed around
30% better than Mg in a diet. The vast majority of studies consider
lower concentrations of Mg in the water, in the range of 10% of the
total daily intake of Mg.
Future research efforts must give better answers to low Mg
concentrations in the drinking water, before any concrete
recommendations are given to the public. Moreover, the researchers must
also determine which chemical form of Mg is most easily absorbed and has
the greatest impact.
Additional research is necessary in order to further investigate the
interrelation between different water and food components as well as
individual risk factors in the pathogenesis of CVD. Acta Medica
Medianae 2006;45(1):53-60.
Key
words:
magnesium, drinking water, cardiovascular disease |