Eating enough protein triggers satiation

Low intake of magnesium can lead to heart arrhythmias and blood sugar elevation

Scientists at the US Department of Agriculture placed a small group of postmenopausal women on a low magnesium diet where they received 101 mg of the mineral daily for the first 78 days of the 136 day long study; this amount is a third of the RDA. After 78 days they were supplemented with 200mg of magnesium unless changes in heart rhythm forced them to supplement earlier. The women ranged in age from 47 to 75y.

During the low magnesium phase of the diet 39% of the women developed changes in their heart rhythm and they were moved into the supplemented phase of the study early to make them replete (reverse of deplete) in magnesium; they could only stay 42 to 64 days on low magnesium instead of 78 days. In fact 23% of the total group of women developed atrial fibrillation and flutter that quickly reversed back to normal with magnesium supplementation. Blood sugar levels and insulin resistance increased when magnesium levels dropped. The study is published in the April 2007 issue of the Journal of the American College of Nutrition.

Men were placed on each of 3 diets that offered different levels of protein; 125% of the RDA, 94%, and 63%. The men were younger (21-43 y) or older (63-79y) and they stayed on each diet for 18 days. Independent of the men?s age, having the higher level of protein decreased their hunger and this was not due to feeling fuller. The conclusion is that men who do not have an adequate protein intake have a change in appetite that may increase their appetite. The researchers were from various department s at Purdue University and their study is published in the June 2007 issue of The Journal of Nutrition.