Question regarding Magnesium supplement/constipation

[Guest guest]

The magnesium I use is the magnesium citrate soluble powder from

Kirkman Laboratories (they have a website). From what I understand

it is one of the most easily absorbed forms. You dissolve it in

water as a drink, it is a citrus flavour and Francesca's very happy

to drink it! I actually give double the suggested dose and have

never yet reached diarrhoea point! Interestingly, her blood levels

last time didn't show particularly high - we have an appointment

next week, so I'm keen to see what shows up now.

Other things to add in which work well for constipation are flax

seed - ideally cracked or crushed, for better absorption - really

nutritious too and high in fat. You need to calculate this in to

the diet - Francesca has it with every meal - salads, fried

mushrooms, over raspberries with some flax oil etc etc.

Also psyllium husks - I use one that also contains fructo

oligosaccharides, lactobacillus acidophillus and lactobacillus

bifidum bacteria, ie the healthy bacteria. It's called Lepicol here

in the UK - I don't know if you have it in the states. This is

allegedly not absorbed and so doesn't need to be calculated in.

Congratulations by the way on 's seizure free couple of weeks

now - long may it continue...

, Mum to Francesca, Keto Kid since Sept 03, drug free since May

04

> > Hi! I need some help. I have two questions:

> >

> > I have begun supplementing my daughter's vitamins up to 100% in

> > biotin, magnesium (oxide)and she already was on a prescription

> > calcium supplement of 1.25GM. Now her magnesium and biotin are

where

> > they should be, I guess.

> >

> > 1. On this site many successfully use a magnesium supplement in

lieu

> > of a laxative, as calcium binds up children and magnesium

eleviates

> > this. Is this magnesium oxide that is used? I have seen no

change

> > in 's constipation issue with the amount of magnesium I have

> > added.... Is there a different magnesium I should be adding, or

just

> > more of the magnesium oxide?

> >

> > Thanks... vitamins and supplements are uncharted territory for

me,

> > and I am floundering.

> >

> > 2. Began selenium with her, hoping she does not suffer hair

loss.

> > She may already have started, or so it seems. How long after

> > starting the selenium does it take to see improvement???

> >

> > Thanks to those who understand these things. We are having

bloodwork

> > done this week and see the neuro next week. began the diet

in

> > May. Are there any specifics I should be " tuned in " to at this

point

> > and looking for? Problems, that is.

> >

> > Thanks... , 's mumma (no seizures in 14 days!)

>

[Guest guest]

Hi - s cal/mag contains a one to one ratio of calcium and

magnesium - the magnesium is in the form of magnesium citrate, but I don't

really know anything about diff forms of mag, like whether one would be more

suitable than another for the constipation issue. I do know that it took a while

of regular mag supplementation to kick in here, but once we found the right dose

for , it has been v successful, and if we miss even one capsule, we do see

a difference, so maybe at this stage needs it boosted a bit more before you

start to see some regularity? Then once you see things go the opp way, ease back

a bit to find her happy medium.

Blood work wise, 's main checks are for vitamin/mineral levels, blood

gases, lipid panel, carnitine, liver and kidney function, and we usually throw

in a lab bhb and glucose check at the same time (with a urine ketone comparison

if poss to look back on and compare to). A 24 hr urine sample checking mainly

for kidney stone formation is another that a lot of centres do, but ours doesn't

here.

I think Jess's Mom posted a list of the keto bloods they had tested

in the files section, maybe run through that and see if you centre is including

most if not all of those, as from menory it was a fairly thorough list,

----- Original Message -----

From: frumpymumma

Hi! I need some help. I have two questions:

I have begun supplementing my daughter's vitamins up to 100% in

biotin, magnesium (oxide)and she already was on a prescription

calcium supplement of 1.25GM. Now her magnesium and biotin are where

they should be, I guess.

1. On this site many successfully use a magnesium supplement in lieu

of a laxative, as calcium binds up children and magnesium eleviates

this. Is this magnesium oxide that is used? I have seen no change

in 's constipation issue with the amount of magnesium I have

added.... Is there a different magnesium I should be adding, or just

more of the magnesium oxide?

Thanks... vitamins and supplements are uncharted territory for me,

and I am floundering.

2. Began selenium with her, hoping she does not suffer hair loss.

She may already have started, or so it seems. How long after

starting the selenium does it take to see improvement???

Thanks to those who understand these things. We are having bloodwork

done this week and see the neuro next week. began the diet in

May. Are there any specifics I should be " tuned in " to at this point

and looking for? Problems, that is.

Thanks... , 's mumma (no seizures in 14 days!)

[Guest guest]

The vitamin and mineral supplement from Wholelife and adding brazil nuts

(you could grind them into flour) stopped the hair loss for my daughter.

That supplement is especially formulated for kids on the keto diet.

We had all sorts of supplements from a local pharmacy and they did

nothing to stop the hair loss and they were a lot more expensive.

Bill

Falk wrote:

> Thanks for letting me know. I know that what I am giving is not doing

anything for the constipation and that it is important to supplement the

magnesium. I will print off your reply as I find a source... I have not sought

out flax seed, but need to get it on my list. I want to do something more

natural than a laxative, per se.

>

> The selenium has been added to her diet, but I must admit she has lost hair on

her forehead area back that I noticed this afternoon... and throughout her head,

I think. I guess I need to cut her hair. It is long and I braid it. Not that

it has ever been thick and luxurious, but the braids or pigtails are dear on her

and she looks better with her hair pulled back. I feel really awful about it..

however, the wonderful two weeks of seizure free living has been a bonus!!!

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi - below in ****s

----- Original Message -----

From: Falk

>The supplement magnesium you give is also magnesium citrate???

***That's what the bottle says, though I didn't actually know that for sure

before checking yesterday

>I hate to be so ignorant about all this,

***Well as you can see from above, I don't really know anything about the

diff sorts either.

>but the constipation issue is so horrific and I would rather supplement

than give one laxative after another!

**Yes for sure - treat the cause not the symptom. It is a worry - I used to

hate constipation with , it was always weighing on my mind, so I know that

feeling, and it will be nice to see you get rid of the problem with .

Have you eased off on the laxatives after introducing the magnesium? If so,

she may still be dependent on the laxative (never had that here but I know it

can happen) and therefore any good from introducing the mag might still be being

offset from a potential dependence. Sort of like a med addiction, (but to do

with the muscles getting too used to being stimulated artificially thru the

laxative, they have to get used to working on their own again I think is how it

goes?) where you have to slowly phase one out as the other is introduced -

perhaps until the dependence (if there is one..) is sorted out, she might need

more magnesium than normal, and this could then be brought back down again once

any laxative dependence problems have been phased out?

If it is not this, and you have kept up with the laxative as before, maybe

she was at the point of needing more to make her go, and it will take a while

therefore for the mag effect to climb on up thru the laxative dependence that

might be increasing?

I would up the magnesium I think - it def does work if it is high enough.

>What exactly means 1.25 GM?

**Not sure? That is her calcium dosage? is on approx 500 mgs per day

of both calcium and magnesium. So in a one to one ratio.

>Any other ideas for hair? I am giving her a biotin supplement and some

selenium - 25mcg. Poor little . Looks like the braids are out and she will

be getting a haircut. Oh, well. Trade hair for seizure relief any day!

***Yes indeed. Same boat here, but 's selenium and biotin (blood work

wise anyways) are at an acceptable level without supplementing. We suspect his

lowish zinc level (have you had this one checked?) courtesy the depakote/diet

combo may be at fault with him, his hair isn't tooooo bad, but it is certainly

nothing like it used to be

Without sounding too sexist.....I guess it isn't as much of a problem with a

little boy as opposed to little girls, his hair is obviously cut shortish

anyway, so not that noticeable. He used to have a thick head of curls, those

days are definitely LONG gone...

>Thanks, .

**