As Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) levels increase, cellular glutathione levels in melanocytes decrease. And remember that glutathione production depends on magnesium. Mitochondria are also very dependent on glutathione because they are major producers of ROS, which, if it gets out of control because of glutathione shortfall, excessive ROS can also lead to mitochondrial damage and death.
Mitochondria depend on magnesium in metabolism to make ATP (adenosine triphosphate), our electrical energy currency. Magnesium also controls calcium levels to protect membrane integrity. If calcium levels get too high because of magnesium deficiency, it can also lead to overstimulation, hardening and mitochondrial damage.
The more stress hormones produced, the more calcium levels are pushed up, the more magnesium levels decrease. The see-saw also goes the other way. As you lift magnesium level, it controls the excessive aberrant calcium and dampens down the stress hormones, allowing you to relax and recover. (Seelig 1980)
The melanin and magnesium antioxidant defence system
Actually, every system in the body is like a see-saw – always looking to re-balance. The better it is at maintaining balance, the better our health and resilience. When your skin is exposed to UV radiation that stress and resulting ROS stimulate melanocytes to produce more melanin to repair DNA and also to absorb more UV radiation as a protective mechanism. A small amount of ROS stimulation (from sunlight) can thus be beneficial for the skin because it leads to production of melanin (a nice tan!). The caveat of course is that the ROS should be controlled and kept in check by melanin, which is dependent on antioxidants like melatonin and glutathione, which are both dependent on magnesium. If the amount of ROS produced overpowers your antioxidant defence system, you get into trouble.
It may surprise you that melanin is not only confined to the skin, but has been found in mitochondria and all cells, particularly in major organs, including the thyroid. If you are experiencing vitiligo, it is also conceivable that you are expressing melanin deficient cells elsewhere too. This is a sign your antioxidants are severely depleted and your body is not able to counteract the ROS free radicals that seek to dissolve you.
It’s not that your body is trying to attack you in Hashimotos (autoimmune) hypothyroidism, but rather its ‘see-saw’ has become out of balance due to a lack of nutritional antioxidant defences.
I was able to stop the advancement of Hashimotos, vitiligo and severe heart arrhythmia in its tracks over a six month period by heavy antioxidant support, including daily over 1,000mg of transdermal magnesium , 3 or 4 grams of vitamin C, B group executive formula (with significant B6), transdermal iodine on soles of feet for three days every fortnight, and an organic paleo diet (ie. absolutely no simple carbohydrates).
Once normal status returned and symptoms dissipated, I was able to maintain good health simply by using diet and lifestyle (exercise, sunshine, meditation, good sleep etc), but I can’t do without the daily high magnesium supplementation via skin. Because I am active and busy, I need to keep my magnesium needs well fed to maintain the balance.
If I have too much stress and don’t top up enough, I can feel the energy wain and fragility return. As soon as I have a good magnesium soak and an all-over magnesium rub, I get a restorative sleep and wake up refreshed again, ready to get stuck into the day. The more you practice and get in touch with your body’s needs, the easier it becomes to help that see-saw compensate for whatever happens in your environment and as a response to stresses.
By Sandy Sanderson © 2020