Trace Elements: Magnesium
Increased Risk of Aneurysm Associated with Fluoroquinolone Use. Zn/Cu Imbalance?
Synthetic broadspectrum antibiotics known as fluoroquinolones are prescribed as a first line antibacterial for acquired infections, especially in hospital settings. They include ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, gatifloxacin, moxifloxacin, ofloxacin, norfloxacin and have been prescribed to over twenty million Americans. Some of the known side effects that have been reported with their use include tendonopathy, tendon rupture as well as peripheral neuropathy. Recently a study reported the increased risk of aortic aneurysm with their use. The mechanism is thought to involve an increase in the stimulation of matrix metalloproteinase activity causing a breakdown of collagen and the structural components of the extracellular matrix. Excess metalloproteinase can also result in poor wound healing. Mueller, PS. General Medicine, Journal Watch. 38,9, 2018.
Comment: Since metalloproteinase is a zinc containing metalloenzyme the mechanism could be related to a zinc/copper imbalance. Aortic aneurysm has been associated with copper deficiency. Other signs of copper deficiency include poor wound healing, as well as neuropathy, neurological disturbance, infections, arthritis, orthopedic disturbance, hypercholesterolemia, anemia, cerebrovascular and cardiovascular disease. It would be prudent to assess the tissue zinc and copper status of those individuals who are prescribed fluoroquinolones and who are experiencing the symptoms mentioned above.
The Microbiome Disturbance and Medications, Other Than Antibiotics
It is well known that antibiotics can alter the normal intestinal flora or microbiome of the gut. However, recently it has been reported that other common medications can do the same. Researchers screened 1000 drugs and 40 common intestinal bacterial strains. They found that twenty-four percent of the drugs inhibited at least one intestinal bacterial strain. The widely prescribed drugs included metformin, as well as antipsychotics and other psychoactive drugs as well as proton pump inhibitors, hormones and antineoplastics. Komaroff, AL. Nonantibiotic Drugs Alter the Gut Microbiome Profoundly. Journal Watch. 38,9, 2018.
Comment: Individuals taking the above medications should be evaluated for intestinal issues. A loss of normal intestinal
flora can lead to many common gut issues.
Hair Calcium/Magnesium Ratio and Coronary Artery Calcification
This study investigated the relationship between tissue calcium and magnesium using hair sample testing and subclinical coronary artery calcification, using coronary calcium scores (CCS). The population included over 200 individuals aged 40 years and above. They found an association with CCS and the tissue calcium-to-magnesium relationship. Coronary calcification scores were strongly associated with a higher calcium-to-magnesium ratio in the hair than lower calcium-to-magnesium ratios found. Park, B, et.al. High Calcium-Magnesium Ratio in Hair is Associated with Coronary Artery Calcification in Middle Aged and Elderly Individuals. Biol.Trace Elem.Res. 179,1, 2017.
Comment: An excess tissue calcium-to-magnesium relationship can lead to many problems not only related to coronary artery calcification, but other soft tissue calcium deposition sites. An elevated ratio is also associated with blood sugar and insulin dysregulation, arthritis, osteoporosis, hypertension and stress-related conditions. The many enzyme activities that require magnesium could also become disturbed.
Low Hair Magnesium and Ventricular Wall Thickness
The relationships between low magnesium intake and cardiovascular disease are well known. As discussed above, a disturbance in the relationship between calcium and magnesium is associated with coronary calcification. This study found a relationship between hair magnesium status and echocardiographic parameters in chronic hemodialysis patients. They found that hair magnesium levels were significantly lower in patients with highleft ventricular mass index compared to those having a low mass index. Low hair magnesium correlated with posterior left ventricular thickness, interventricular septum thickness, left ventricular wall thickness as well as relative wall thickness. The authors concluded that hair magnesium concentrations is a biomarker for ventricular hypertrophy in hemodialysis patients. Ochi, A. et al. Hair magnesium, but not serum magnesium, is associated with left ventricular wall thickness in hemodialysis patients. Circ. J. 77,12, 2013.
Comment: Inadequate magnesium status has been associated with many health conditions for decades, particularly heart
disease. However, apparently since serum magnesium has been used as the test of choice, but rarely reflects true
magnesium status, the use of magnesium therapy for the large population affected is grossly ignored and underutilized.
Since it is also well known that serum magnesium tests do not reflect total body magnesium status, hair tissue mineral
analysis (HTMA) can be accepted as a more adequate screening tool for total body magnesium as well as magnesium’s
relationship with other mineral concentrations.
When considering testing for magnesium and other minerals, it's important to understand the strengths and limitations of various methods:
- Hair Analysis (HTMA): This method reflects mineral and heavy metal accumulation in the hair over several weeks to months, making it ideal for assessing long-term exposure and mineral status. HTMA is particularly valuable because it offers a broader window into the body's mineral dynamics, capturing trends that serum tests may miss.
- Blood Testing: Blood tests measure what is currently circulating in the bloodstream and are best for detecting recent or acute exposures. However, since the body regulates blood levels tightly and minerals quickly move from blood to tissues, blood tests often fail to reveal true tissue status—especially for minerals like magnesium.
- Urine Testing: Urine analysis shows which minerals and heavy metals the body is actively excreting. This can help identify ongoing exposures or elimination patterns, particularly when substances are used to provoke the release of stored metals from tissues.
- Stool Testing: This type of test can reflect elimination of minerals and metals through the digestive tract and may provide insight into gastrointestinal excretion. However, results can be influenced by factors such as diet, digestion, and individual metabolic processes, making interpretation more complex.
By understanding the unique insights each testing method offers, practitioners and individuals can make more informed decisions about which assessments best reflect overall mineral balance and toxic metal exposure. This is especially critical in the context of magnesium, where hair analysis often provides a more accurate depiction of long-term status and its interplay with other essential minerals.
Have you ever looked at the Periodic Table of Elements? These elements make up everything in the universe! Everything; including us. In fact, we are the microcosm of the macrocosm. In Biblical terms, we are made in God’s image. In chemistry, we are composed mostly of about 40 elements on the Periodic Table. Our make up is essentially the combination of elements made flesh, with the spark of spirit that gives us life.
What is Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA)?
In the Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA), the biological activity of 37 Elements is measured. They are: 15 important Nutritional Elements, 8 Toxic Heavy Metals, and 14 Trace Elements. With the information of the HTMA, we now know what is available and being used in the body or what is lacking. Health begins to deteriorate when cell metabolism does not have the right foods and elements it needs. A mineral imbalance follows. Over time, function goes down and structure begins to lose its integrity. With the right foods and a balance of elements on a daily basis the body’s cells will repair and reverse aging.
HTMA is a non-invasive test, requiring only a small hair sample. Unlike blood or urine tests—which typically reflect only short-term or momentary levels—hair analysis provides a long-term record of mineral status and toxic element accumulation. Hair, being a tissue that grows over weeks and months, acts as a biological archive of both essential minerals like magnesium and zinc, and toxic elements such as lead, arsenic, aluminum, and cadmium. This makes HTMA particularly valuable for detecting chronic imbalances and hidden exposures that may not show up in other testing.
What Can HTMA Reveal?
The HTMA will show:
- How to avoid disease states
- Any toxic or heavy metal overload
- A complete profile of 37 different elements
- The correct diet schedule based on your biochemistry
Because minerals are the spark plugs of life, even a small imbalance can have a ripple effect throughout your system—impacting everything from energy levels and immunity, to the integrity of your bones and cardiovascular health. By understanding your mineral blueprint, you can support your body’s natural ability to detoxify, regenerate, and thrive.
Contact Johnny to order your HTMA today - $226 USD
Best Selling author Johnny Delirious worked with one of the first pioneers to use the scientific modality - Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA), to get the right diet and supplements to experience life free of disease. The guessing game to achieve good health is over. Today he gives his expert advice with over 40 years of experience as a professional in the health industry.
How Often Should You Repeat Hair Mineral Analysis Testing?
Just as routine check-ups keep your car running smoothly, periodic Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) helps ensure your body stays in optimal balance. I recommend repeating the test every 3 to 6 months. This window allows enough time for nutritional changes, detoxification, or supplementation to take effect—revealing how your body responds and adapts.
Retesting at regular intervals allows you to:
- Clearly track progress and improvements in mineral balance,
- Adjust your diet and supplementation as your body chemistry shifts,
- Catch early signs of developing imbalances or toxic exposures before they become an issue.
Think of it as checking your roadmap on a journey—each test helps confirm you’re on the right path toward restored health and vitality.
The Benefits of At-Home Hair Sample Collection
One of the standout advantages of Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis is the ease with which you can provide a sample. Collecting a hair specimen in the comfort of your own home is simple, non-invasive, and free from the discomfort or inconvenience of a doctor’s visit or blood draw.
There’s no need to schedule an appointment or rearrange your daily routine. All it takes is a small snip of hair—usually from the nape of the neck—and you’re done. You maintain control over the process, ensuring your privacy and saving valuable time. Plus, hair samples remain stable during transport, so there’s no rush to deliver them to the lab.
This straightforward, at-home approach makes it accessible for anyone, anywhere—a significant improvement over more complicated or invasive testing methods. The result? Deeper insights into your mineral status without any fuss or hassle.
Receiving and Protecting Your HTMA Results
Once your Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) is complete, your test results are delivered with the strictest confidence and security. You’ll receive a detailed report outlining your mineral and heavy metal profile, along with practical recommendations for moving toward balance.
Rest assured—your results remain entirely private. Only you receive the findings directly, typically through a secure, personalized portal or via confidential postal mail, depending on your provider’s method. It’s up to you whether to share them with your physician, another healthcare provider, or anyone else.
Unless specifically required by law, none of your personal health information is ever shared without your clear consent. You’re always in control of who sees your data, ensuring your journey to better health is not only effective—but confidential.
Who Can Use Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis?
There are just a few important guidelines to keep in mind before ordering an HTMA.
First, individuals with colored or chemically treated hair should note that results may be affected, as the test is most accurate with natural, untreated hair. To get the best, most reliable results, use hair that hasn’t been colored, bleached, or permed.
Second, there are some geographical restrictions. Currently, this analysis is not available to residents of New York. However, it is accessible in Canada, and in most other locations.
Finally, while the HTMA yields comprehensive data on mineral imbalances and toxic load, please know that it offers a clear biochemical roadmap—customized dietary and supplement advice may require further consultation with a qualified practitioner.
By following these recommendations, you can ensure the most accurate and useful snapshot of your mineral status—setting the stage for optimal health.
Dr. Michael Ruduloph Maxon, AKA Johnny Delirious, Laboratory Naturopathic Doctor, gives expert advice with 40 years of experience as a professional in the health industry to his patients to heal using food and Ancient Greek therapies all backed by modern laboratory science. He is unquestionably the only TRUE Addiction & Hepatitis A, B and C Recovery Pioneer free of mood altering substances (cocaine) since 1991, no viral load or antibodies of hepatitis since 1994 and no cirrhosis since 1995. Nobody in his life including doctors, friends and family thought he would live passed 1992, they all said he was going to die. But, Johnny chose life; not death and learned how to heal his body, mind and spirit by developing new protocols with natural therapies. For over 20 years he has helped many others recover including professionals - doctors, dentists, lawyers who don't want chemical drugs or surgery recover from the same conditions that everyone said were hopeless. Contact Johnny for a Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA), get the right diet, supplements plus expert advice with 30 years of experience
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