EMBARGOED UNTIL MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1998
NEW STUDY INDICATES POTASSIUM-MAGNESIUM SUPPLEMENT, EFFECTIVE IN STEMMING DANGEROUS MINERAL LOSS AMONG PATIENTS TAKING THIAZIDE DIURETICS
-- Addition Of Magnesium To Supplementation Has Added Benefits --
PHILADELPHIA, PA, October 26 -- A new study presented today at the American Society of Nephrology meeting by Lisa Ruml, MD, formerly Assistant Professor at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, documents the advantages of a single supplement capable of maintaining adequate body stores of potassium and magnesium for patients on thiazide diuretics. The supplement, which was developed by a research team and included Dr. Ruml at the University of Texas Southwestern, is a potassium-magnesium citrate compound incorporated in a wax matrix to assure a delayed release.
Thiazide diuretics are commonly prescribed for hypertension and other medical conditions, and are known to deplete stores of potassium and magnesium.1 Depletion of either potassium or magnesium can cause frequent and sometimes serious complications, including muscle weakness, paralysis and cardiac arrhythmia.
The study of 183 patients was conducted in collaboration with Charles Y.C. Pak, MD, Director of the Center for Mineral Metabolism and Clinical Research at University Texas Southwestern and supported by a grant from National Institute of Diabetes and Digestion and Kidney Diseases. Among the findings:
* Potassium-magnesium citrate is a safe and efficient way to treat hypokalemia and may prevent hypomagnesemia in patients taking thiazide diuretics.
* Potassium-magnesium citrate is well-tolerated when taken after meals, with no development of gastrointestinal side effects.
Magnesium depletion is most probably under-diagnosed, with more attention having been placed on potassium depletion. Further, there is a linkage between potassium and magnesium metabolism, and magnesium depletion, if left uncorrected, can result in potassium depletion. The study points to the utility of a single supplement capable of maintaining adequate total body stores of the two minerals.
Potassium magnesium citrate was originally formulated for the prevention of kidney stones, because of its ability to increase urinary inhibitors - citrate and magnesium. In an earlier randomized trial, this drug was found to be highly effective in inhibiting the recurrence of calcium containing kidney stones.
For more information on the study, or an opportunity to interview a researcher, physician or patient, contact: Bill Glitz (708) 532-3797 or Jerri Ann Yznaga (212) 527-8884.
1 Hypokalemia and hypomagnesemia are the names given to the condition of depleted potassium and magnesium in the body, respectively.
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