Magnesium’s place in the area of platelet aggregation appears to be crucial to the control or palliation of a number of important health problems. The hyperactivity of platelets that results in their aggregation and the subsequent release of potent vasoconstrictors may be at the base of problems, such as migraine headaches and vascular diseases associated with diabetes, strokes and various cardiovascular diseases.

Several studies suggest different mechanism of action by which ascorbic acid protects against cardiovascular disease.

1. Atherosclerosis is a natural protective mechanism against the arterial deteriorating effects by a vitamin C deficiency. Thus vitamin C deficiency leads to atherosclerosis which in turn causes cardiovascular disease.

2. Vitamin C enables the arterial system to expand and contract with youthful elasticity.

3. Co-administration of nitrate drugs with vitamin C to coronary artery disease patients prolongs the vasodilating effects of the nitrate drugs and the energy producing capacity of the cells is maintained. Otherwise, nitrate drugs alone cause progressive weakening of the heart muscle’s ability to produce energy and also the vascular system stops responding to the dilating effects of the drug. Vitamin C thus potentially helps to prevent the development of nitrate tolerance.

4. An especially damaging effect of nitrate drugs is that they cause a decrease in the intracellular product of cGMP. This energy substrate is required to maintain cellular energy levels. Vitamin C has been shown to protect against nitrate-induced depletion of cGMP. The use of vitamin C during pre-treatment with nitrate drugs increased the availability of nitric oxide, an important precursor to cGMP.

Thus published research findings suggest that ascorbic acid may reduce mortality in coronary artery disease patients, increase life span and possibly eliminate the effects of nitrate tolerance in those taking nitrate drugs.

Magnesium is the fourth most abundant mineral in the body. It is essential to build the bones and teeth and numerous metabolic functions.

Magnesium is also an ingredient in some antacids and laxatives and is used to prevent premature birth and treat certain types of convulsions and rapid heartbeats (tachycardia). Magnesium works with calcium and phosphorous to build strong bones and teeth.

It also plays important roles in:

• Normal metabolism

• Proper nerve and muscle function

• Stimulating calcium function

• Preventing dental cavities

• Promoting immunity and

• Boosting the actions of potassium and some of B-vitamins

• It may also aid in the treatment of asthma, cardiac arrhythmia, high blood pressure, fibromyalgia and diabetes.

In addition to its use for the treatment of hypomagnesemia, magnesium is used for the treatment of certain cardiac arrhythmia’s, in particular torsasde de points and eclampsia. Magnesium may also have value for the prevention of osteoporosis and for the management of migraine headaches in some. There is preliminary evidence that magnesium may help some with premenstrual syndrome, type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension.

Ascorbic acid is involved in modulating iron absorption, transport and storage. It aids in the intestinal absorption of iron by reducing ferric iron to ferrous iron and may stimulate ferritin synthesis to promote iron storage in cells. It is involved in the biosynthesis of corticosteroids, aldosterone, the conversion of cholesterol to bile acids and functions as a reducing agent for mixed-function oxidases.

For all of this, ascorbic acid is best known for its antioxidant properties and its possible role in the prevention of certain chronic degenerative disorders, such as coronary heart disease and cancer. In fact, ascorbic acid may be the most important water-soluble antioxidant in the body.

Ascorbic acid has antioxidant activity. It may also have antiatherogenic, anticarcinogenic, antihypertensive, antiviral, antihistaminic, immunomodulatory, opthalmoprotective and airway-protective actions. It may aid in the detoxification of some heavy metals, such as lead and other toxic chemicals.

Ascorbic acid or, more specifically, ascorbate is an excellent reducing agent, and it acts as cofactor in various biochemical reactions to reduce the transition metals, iron and copper. It can be oxidized by most reactive oxygen and nitrogen species thought to play roles in tissue injury associated with various diseases. By virtue of this scavenging activity, ascorbate inhibits lipid peroxidation, oxidative DNA damage and oxidative protein damage.

The antioxidant activity of ascorbate is well established and that activity may be helpful in the prevention of some cancers and cardiovascular diseases. It may also be helpful in protecting against some of the lipid oxidation caused by smoking.