Magnesium Helps with Mast Cell Activation (MCAS)
When I first realized I had mast cell activation, I learned about the importance of using magnesium. Though it provided me with noticeable relief from my MCAS symptoms, I quickly realized that the brand and source were the key determinants of success. For this reason, I kept searching until one day, I found a plant-derived magnesium that was an absolute game changer.
In this article, I will cover ALL the ways magnesium helps with mast cell activation. This will demonstrate how important magnesium is to the body when battling MCAS. Afterward, I will answer some common questions about using magnesium for mast cell activation. In the end, you should know more about magnesium and how it affects mast cells than most doctors. Scroll down to get started!
How Magnesium Helps MCAS
Stabilizing Mast Cells
Magnesium stabilizes mast cell membrane integrity, making them less likely to release inflammatory molecules like histamine. Studies have also shown that low magnesium levels cause mast cells to become more reactive. If you want your mast cells to be calm, you better have enough magnesium.
Reducing Histamine Release
Magnesium has been shown to reduce histamine release from mast cells. It accomplishes this in various ways, one of which is by blocking calcium channels that are necessary for mast cell activation. In the end, the less histamine, the better you will feel if you have MCAS.
Modulating Inflammatory Cytokines
The mast cells secrete more than just histamine. They also secrete inflammatory cytokines like IL-6 and TNF-alpha. Fortunately, magnesium can modulate the immune system, reducing the release of inflammatory cytokines. By doing so, it can potentially alleviate some of the MCAS symptoms people experience.
Reducing Stress Response
Magnesium has been shown to reduce stress and calm down the central nervous system. Stress is a major trigger of mast cell activation symptoms. In fact, it may be the strongest of all. Since magnesium can stabilize the mast cells in various ways, it can reduce the likelihood of being triggered by stressful events.
Improving Histamine Metabolism
Magnesium is a cofactor in producing important enzymes responsible for breaking down histamine. These enzymes are diamine oxidase (DAO) and histamine N-methyltransferase (HNMT). DAO breaks down histamine in the gut, while HNMT takes care of it in the brain. By supporting the production of these critical enzymes, magnesium indirectly improves histamine metabolism.
Preventing Calcium Overload
Magnesium acts as a natural calcium antagonist. It constantly competes with calcium, which is good for those who have mast cell activation. Calcium is necessary for the mast cells to release inflammatory chemicals. Also, magnesium helps regulate the calcium levels within the mast cells, causing them to become more stable.
Enhancing DAO Production
DAO is an enzyme responsible for breaking down histamine in your gut. When levels of DAO get low, your mast cell population and gut inflammation increase. Magnesium is a co-factor in the production of DAO, so you must maintain normal magnesium levels to optimize your production.
Supporting Overall Immune Function
Magnesium is essential to overall immune health. It keeps the immune cells calm and makes them far less reactive to the environment. This allows them to focus on more important things, like eliminating pathogens. When the immune system is overactive, pathogen levels gradually increase, which aggravates MCAS symptoms.
Reducing Oxidative Stress
Magnesium acts as an antioxidant, reducing oxidative stress in the body. When oxidative stress is high, mast cells become overreactive. This is why it’s important to have antioxidants like magnesium to eliminate free radicals.
Supporting Sleep Quality
To keep your mast cells stable, you need to have sound sleep. If you don’t, the mast cells can be far more reactive the following days. This is where magnesium comes in. By relaxing the CNS and muscles, magnesium can help you get consistent deep sleep so your immune system can wake up calm rather than aggravated.
Lowering Cortisol Levels
When cortisol levels are high, mast cells can be more reactive than normal. Thankfully, magnesium can reduce stress and lower cortisol levels, reducing MCAS and histamine-related symptoms.
Improving Gut Health
Magnesium has been shown to improve gut health by reducing the reactivity of mast cells. It has also been shown to boost bifidobacterium levels. In addition, it promotes a parasympathetic response, which is ideal for proper digestion. Altogether, it reduces inflammation and promotes a healthier gut environment.
Reduces Muscle Tension/Vessel Constriction
When the mast cells are overreactive, and histamine levels are high, the muscles and vessels become tight. Magnesium reduces tension in both these areas, allowing the muscles to relax and the vessels to dilate. Both of these are critical for influencing MCAS symptoms.
Regulating Neurotransmitters
Magnesium can play a critical role in neurotransmitter balance. It greatly supports the production of GABA, which opposes histamine and is essential for relaxation. Also, magnesium can increase serotonin levels and reduce the production of excitatory neurotransmitters. All of these things are critical to maintaining neurotransmitter balance.
Supporting Mitochondrial Function
Magnesium is a cofactor in producing ATP energy within the cell’s mitochondria. This is critical for cell health because it helps it function normally. As a result, it leads to less mast cell degranulation and histamine release.
Improving Vagal Tone
Magnesium activates the parasympathetic response by balancing the activity of the vagus nerve, which is critical for maintaining a healthy immune response. By supporting vagal tone, magnesium reduces the likelihood of mast cell degranulation.
Supporting Blood Sugar Balance
Magnesium assists with insulin uptake, which helps to maintain a balanced blood sugar level. This is critical for people with mast cell activation. When blood sugar levels are stable, the mast cells are much less likely to become aggravated.
Enhancing Acetylcholine Release
Magnesium is involved with the release of acetylcholine, which is a neurotransmitter associated with the parasympathetic response. The parasympathetic response is also known as the rest and digest state. When in the state, the body reduces inflammatory processes, and the mast cells stabilize.
FAQ- Magnesium and Mast Cell Activation (MCAS)
What is the best form of magnesium for MCAS?
There are only a few magnesium supplements out there that are not synthetic. The best of these is Aquamin. This is a patented form of magnesium derived from marine algae. In addition, it contains trace minerals and calcium, which increases the magnesium’s absorption. A few brands sell it, but my favorite is Nature’s Answer. It gives you the most for the money and has the least fillers.
Can I get my magnesium through my diet alone?
If you have mast cell activation, typically, you are low in magnesium. Even if blood levels show normal, most of the time, the intracellular levels are low. For this reason, it is impossible to restore your deficiency through food. The good news is, you can still get your magnesium from plants if you take Aquamin. This is a much more reasonable way to restore a magnesium deficiency.
Why should synthetic magnesium supplements be avoided?
Synthetic magnesium can mimic the effects of the real thing, but it isn’t. The reality is that the immune system will discover this at some point. Also, synthetic magnesium may circulate in the blood and produce similar effects, but it will not be stored within the cells. This is why you need to use a plant-derived magnesium like Aquamin. It will produce the same benefits as synthetic magnesium, but it will also restore intracellular deficiencies.
How do you resolve a severe magnesium deficiency?
There is one way to tell if you have a severe magnesium deficiency. If you take two Aquamin on an empty stomach and notice considerable relaxation, that’s probably a sign you are deficient. Your dosage will depend upon your weight and level of deficiency. Ideally, you would want to take 600 to 800 mg of plant-derived magnesium daily. This should be separated into 2-3 daily doses for best results.
Keep in mind that restoring magnesium levels in the body can take anywhere from 3 to 6 months if there is a severe deficiency. For this reason, you must be consistent with the dosing. If anything, you can take one day off per week, but that’s the max I would do.
Are there any side effects of using magnesium for MCAS?
When you first start taking Aquamin magnesium, you may feel overly relaxed or sleepy. Also, if you take too much, you may get loose stools. To reduce the likelihood of side effects, you can take smaller doses more frequently. For example, you could take 200 mg four times per day rather than 400 mg twice per day.
What should I expect when I first start taking Aquamin for MCAS?
Please note that when you first start taking magnesium, your body will start to exit fight or flight and enter a state of rest and digestion. When this occurs, it can feel sort of like an energy crash. Don’t be discouraged, though, because it only lasts for five days or so. After that, the energy builds up daily as you notice your MCAS symptoms improving. Stick with it; it’s well worth it!
Conclusion- Magnesium is Critical for Mast Cell Activation
When you’re struggling with mast cell activation, the first step is to eliminate your dietary and environmental irritants. Once you get moving in that area, it’s time to start fortifying your body with plant-derived magnesium! Remember that if you are REALLY deficient, there WILL be an adjustment process, so stick with it. Trust me, your mast cells will thank you in the long run.
If you have any questions about mast cell activation or using magnesium, get in touch. I’m willing to help and blessed to have the opportunity!
Happy healing everyone!
Matt Nedin
Certified Holistic Nutritionist
EndSickness – Founder
Phone: (734) 846-8619
Email: endsickness@gmail.com
WhatsApp: +17348468619
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