ionized form (122). We believe Kreb cycle intermediate chelates like aspartate, fumarate, succinate, citrate are the best, and are used in AMC (123). You may remember that the Kreb cycle is a main energy producing pathway. So that Kreb cycle chelates are natural for the body.
Unless specifically prescribed by a knowledgable health care practitioner it can be deterimental to individually supplement minerals. Our understanding of how minerals function in the body is still in its infancy. Our understanding of how altering the levels of one mineral can affect the levels of other minerals is even less understood. So at this time the best approach is to use a multimineral supplement where information about mineral interactions has been taken into account. Examples of these interactions are that taking too much zinc can drive copper down and taking too much calcium can drive magnesium and phosphorus down. Consuming large quantities of soda pop which contain high amounts of phosphorus can drive calcium levels down.
Calcium
FORM - Calcium citrate, calcium asparate and calcium carbonate are used in AMC to provide a total of 500mg of elemental calcium with a four caplet dose. There is controversy has to what form of calcium is best absorbed. By providing a mixture of calciums high bioavailability should be ensured.
FUNCTIONS - Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body, with about 99% of it found in bone. Calcium has many varied functions in the body. Besides its well publicized role as part of the mineral matrix of bone, calcium plays an extremely important role in regulating many intracellular events. For many cellular regulating intracellular calcium is critically important to how the cell functions. Calcium is needed for normal nerve transmission, for many hormones to have their biological effect, for normal cell membrane function, for normal cardiac function, for normal skeletal muscle function, and for normal smooth muscle function (GI tract motility, vasoconstriction, etc)(87).
THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS - Certainly calcium supplementation can be helpful in stopping bone loss, espcially if the woman is deficient (124). Poor calcium nutriture is fairly common in this country because of 1) low calcium intakes, 2) high intakes of phosphorus (high in soda pop), 3) high intake of sodium and sugar which can lead to increase calcium loss in the urine (125, 126). Calcium supplementation has also been shown to help to alleviate muscular cramping (127). As already discussed under vitamin D, a number of authors have suggested that improper calcium metabolism is underlies many chronic degenerative diseases (88, 89).
Magnesium
FORM - Magnesium ctirate and magnesium asparate are used in AMC to provide a highly absorbable 250 mg of elemental magnesium.
FUNCTIONS - Magnesium is the next most abundant mineral in the body after calcium. Most magnesium is found in bone as part of the mineral matrix, but a significant proportion is also found in muscle. Normal levels of magnesium are essential for appropriate metabolism, especially energy production and normal muscle function (128, 129). Optimum magnesium nutriture is critically important for excellent cardiac function (130, 131). Since magnesium and calcium interact in the body it is important to supplement magnesium any time calcium is being supplemented. Magnesium can help prevent and dissovle calcium oxalate kidney stones (132).
THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS - Magnesium supplementation has been shown to be effective in relaxing any type of muscle (smooth, cardiac, skeletal) (133). Therefore magnesium can help with hypertension, coronary vasospasm, and muscle cramping. Probably because of its ability to relax muscle magnesium has been found to be helpful in treating asthma (134). Magnesium supplementation is a premier approach to treating almost any sort of myocardial problem. Inadequate magnesium nutriture is also fairly common in this country due to 1) low intakes of high magnesium foods (nuts, seeds, berries), 2) use of laxatives and various medications which can lead to increase magnesium loss, and 3) loss of magnesium in food processing.
Potassium
FORM - Same as for magnesium.
FUNCTIONS - Potassium is the most abundant intracellular ion (charged mineral). Because of this it plays a critical role in normal electrical activity of muscles and nerves. Therefore normal potassium nutriture is crucial to optimum heart function, skeletal muscle contraction and transmission of nerve signals (135).
THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS - It is important that adequate intakes of potassium be obtained, relative to the rather high intakes of sodium in this country. This may be one of the most important mineral balances to help prevent hypertension (136). Potassium is another mineral Americans tend to be low in because 1) low intakes of fresh fruits and vegetables, 2) loss of potassium in cooking, 3) loss of potassium with heavy perspiration, and 4) the use of medications (like most diuretics) which increase potassium excretion via the urine. Potassium supplementation may also be helpful in alleviating muscle cramps (137).
Silica
FORM - The form used in AMC is sodium metasilicate. This is considered a highly absorbable form.
FUNCTIONS - Silica is found has part of the mineral matrix of nails and connective tissue (including bone) (138). It gives these tissues their high tensile strength and stability.
THERAPEUTIC EFFECTS - Since connective tissue is found throughout the body silica can have varying effects including health improvements of skin, hair, nails, and bones (139). Silica has also been studied in relation to its benefits in treating arthritis, osteoporosis and other joint problems (140 ). Aluminum accumulation in the brain has been associated with accelerative neurodegenerative changes characteristic of Alzheimers (141). Silica appears to be able to significantly lessen aluminum absorption and therefore may be helpful in the prevention of Alzheimers (141).
Zinc
FORM - Zinc monomethionine is used in AMC because of its a well absorbed form of zinc (142). Methionine is considered an essential amino acid and works to effectively enhance zinc absorption because naturally occurring zinc is always found associated with the protein fraction of foods and requires protein/amino acids for its absorption (143).
FUNCTIONS - Zinc functions as an important enzyme cofactor for well over 70 different types of enzymes (144). This means that zinc is needed for many different metabolic reactions. Some of the best studied functions of zinc include its synergist actions with vitamin A ; including a role in vision, a role in normal reproductive function and a role in normal cell maturation and differentation (145). Zinc is also needed for normal immune system function, normal brain function, as a free radical scavenger (part of superoxide dismutasse, an important antioxidant enzyme), for normal sensory (smell, taste, etc) function, and for detoxification and alcohol metabolism (146, 147, 148).
