Thought leader: Dr Rhonda Patrick
Dr Rhonda Patrick is dedicated to distributing information for optimal health and living. She creates and shares the latest research on nutrition, aging, disease prevention and well-being. She is a firm believer in the benefits of magnesium for the human body and longevity. Dr Patrick has an informative website that has many insights and interesting videos on healthy living.
“Magnesium is an essential mineral and a cofactor for hundreds of enzymes. It is involved in many physiological pathways, including energy production, nucleic acid and protein synthesis, ion transport, and cell signaling,” says Dr Patrick. “Magnesium deficiency is linked with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and metabolic disorders, including hypertension and type 2 diabetes. Dietary sources of magnesium include legumes, nuts, seeds, whole grains, and green leafy vegetables (such as spinach),” she adds.
Her main research revolves around mineral deficiencies
Dr Patrick has studied the effects of mineral deficiencies on the human body. Magnesium deficiency can lead to numerous symptoms. Her research has also linked magnesium deficiency to impaired vitamin D metabolism. The body’s skin reacts to ultraviolet light from the sun and is able to convert it to pre-vitamin D. “Subsequent processes in the liver and kidneys convert the pre-vitamin to calcitriol, the active form of the vitamin. The enzymes that catalyze these processes require magnesium,” she explains.
Many people take vitamin D supplements, but without sufficient magnesium, the body cannot properly metabolise these vitamins. This leads to calcification of blood vessels – a critical factor in the development of atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease. “Conversely, people whose magnesium levels are sufficiently high require less vitamin D supplementation to achieve healthy levels,” says Dr Patrick.
Here are three videos worth watching that delve into Dr Patrick’s thoughts on magnesium and healthy living:
More information about Dr Rhonda Patrick
Dr Patrick graduated from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. Her groundbreaking research investigated the link between mitochondrial metabolism, apoptosis and cancer. These findings were published in an issue of Nature Cell Biology. Since then, Dr Patrick has trained as a postdoctoral fellow at the Children’s Hospital Oakland Research Institute in California.
Here, she investigated the effects of micronutrient deficiencies on metabolism, inflammation, DNA damage and aging. She wanted to see whether supplementation with vitamins and minerals, including magnesium, can reverse the damage caused by deficiencies. Dr Patrick regularly interacts with the public on various medical topics, such as the roles played by micronutrient deficiencies in diseases affecting the elderly. Her main goal is to get the public to think about their health and lifestyle through proactive and preventative approaches.