COLLEGE OF SAN BENILDO – RIZAL

J U N I O R H I G H S C H O O L D E P A R T M E N T
Sumulong Highway, Antipolo, Rizal
S.Y. 2019-2020

Magnesium Citrate as a Substitute for

Atacand

Group 6 10-C

Dela Cruz, Angela Justine

Nicdao, Christine Joy

Samera, Natalie

Ibarra, Hahn Sebastian

Ilasin, Venmar
 CHAPTER I

THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

Introduction

In today’s modern age, High blood pressure is a common condition which your

blood is high against the walls of your artery which can cause serious medical issues like

heart diseases. One out of three people have hypertension, or high blood pressure. This

is a common and serious health concern, as uncontrolled hypertension can cause heart

disease and increase your risk of having a stroke.

In this study, the researchers hope to develop a new alternative magnesium

additive which has the same benefits but much cheaper medication for high blood

pressure. The study is conducted to prove that magnesium has the same benefits and

cheaper than candesartan – a supplement that is effective and shows a significant

decrease on high blood pressure.

Background Of The Study

Magnesium is the fourth most abundant mineral in your body and is

responsible for the function of over 350 enzymes in your body. One study found significant

decreases in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure among people with hypertension

after taking a magnesium supplement. "With its relative safety and low cost, magnesium

supplements could be considered as an option for lowering blood pressure in high-risk

persons or hypertension patients," lead author Dr. Yiqing Song, an associate professor

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of epidemiology at Indiana University, said in a statement. Magnesium helps to regulate

hundreds of body systems, including blood pressure, blood sugar, and muscle and nerve

function. Magnesium also supports a casual anti-hypertensive effect among supplements

for adults. The mineral also helps to prevent blood vessels form constricting and show

improve blood flow.

Statement Of The Problem

The study aims to develop a magnesium supplement that helps to lower high blood

pressure. The study aims to answer the following questions:

1. Is magnesium effective for lowering high blood pressure?

2. Is magnesium an alternative low-cost medicine for lowering high blood pressure?

3. Does magnesium have any notable change if the dosages are increased?

4. Is magnesium suggested to be used long term?

5. Is magnesium suitable substitute for other commercial medicine?

Hypothesis

The researchers assumed that the magnesium supplement will greatly help to

lower high blood pressure amongst hypertensive people. Primarily, this study has the

following hypothesis:

The magnesium will be effective for lowering blood pressure because of its

different properties and known to have 300 biochemical reaction on the body and that a

robust action in reducing oxidative stress marker during treatment, independent of BP

reduction. The magnesium will be much cheaper than commercial products and will have

the same effect as candesartan and other commercial products. The magnesium will

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show a significant decrease if the dosages were increased. Other study found that taking

368 mg of magnesium supplements daily for three months reduced people's systolic

blood pressure by an average of 2 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) and reduced their

diastolic blood pressure by an average of 1.8 mm Hg. Magnesium is safe for most people

when taken by mouth appropriately. In some people, magnesium might cause stomach

upset, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and other side effects.

Scope and Limitations

The researchers focused on magnesium supplements in helping to lower high

blood pressure on a human body. The researchers focus on magnesium citrate and its

potential to be an alternative for magnesium stearate which is used on candesartan

cilexetil. This also includes its different side effects with different dosages. The study is

limited only to magnesium and its potential to be a substance that lower one’s blood

pressure. It covers magnesium citrate has a potential to lower blood pressure because of

its benefits.

Significance Of The Study

The researchers aim to help different kinds of people whether in first, second or

third-class countries. This study aims to help those elderly who cannot afford expensive

medication. The researches want to relieve their pain as well as their expenses. The study

is conducted to find alternative way and a cheaper way to save and reduce the use of

ingredients for a candesartan tablet. This study also helps Filipino patients who are below

the poverty line. Cheaper medication will be a huge help especially for those who cannot

afford to maintain taking expensive medication.

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 The result of the study will be beneficial to following:

Patients. The magnesium supplement will greatly help patients to afford

medication for hypertension. The magnesium will be affordable because of its relatively

low-cost ingredients.

Doctors. The magnesium supplement will greatly help doctors for them to maintain

their patients in taking up their medicine.

Researchers. The researchers have developed their writing, analysis, and

interpretation skills needed to make a good study.

Definition of terms

For a better understanding of the terms used in the entire study, the following

words are defined;

Anti-hypertensive. A class of drugs that are used to treat hypertension.

Candesartan. An angiotensin receptor blocker used mainly for the treatment of high

blood pressure and congestive heart failure.

Candesartan Cilexetil. A drug used for treating high blood pressure (hypertension). It is

in a class of drugs called angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) which includes losartan

(Cozaar), valsartan (Diovan), and irbesartan (Avapro).

Diastolic blood pressure. The pressure in the arteries when the heart rests between

beats. This is the time when the heart fills with blood and gets oxygen. A normal diastolic

blood pressure is lower than 80.

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Dosages. A measured quantity of a medicine, nutrient, or pathogen which is delivered as

a unit.

High blood pressure. A common condition in which the long-term force of the blood

against your artery walls is high enough that it may eventually cause health problems,

such as heart disease.

Hypertension. Is a long-term medical condition in which the blood pressure in the arteries

is persistently elevated.

Magnesium. A mineral that's crucial to the body's function. Magnesium helps keep blood

pressure normal, bones strong, and the heart rhythm steady.

Magnesium citrate. a magnesium preparation in salt form with citric acid in a 1:1 ratio

and increases water in the intestines. Magnesium citrate is used as a laxative to treat

occasional constipation.

Magnesium stearate. Magnesium used in the production of dietary supplement and

pharmaceutical tablets, capsules and powders

Millimeters of mercury. A manometric unit of pressure, formerly defined as the extra

pressure generated by a column of mercury one millimeter high, and currently defined as

exactly 133.322387415 pascals. It is denoted mmHg or mm Hg.

Supplements. manufactured product intended to supplement the diet when taken by

mouth as a pill, capsule, tablet, or liquid.

Systolic blood pressure. The top number refers to the amount of pressure in your

arteries during the contraction of your heart muscle.

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 CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

The review of study focuses on the health benefits of magnesium citrate and its

preparation, which can or can not contribute in lowering blood pressure on hypertensive

people. Using magnesium citrate can potentially be a substitute as a supplement to lower

blood pressure.

According to Yiqing Song, M.D., Sc.D., (2016), lead author, Indiana University,

Indianapolis stated that magnesium supplements could be considered as an option for

lowering blood pressure in high-risk persons or hypertension patients with its relative

safety and low cost. A meta-analysis, funded by the Indiana University School of Medicine

Strategic Research Initiative, details positive results that show an association between a

daily intake of magnesium and a reduction in blood pressure. Magnesium is already

recognized as essential for over 300 biochemical reactions in the body. While there has

been ongoing research into whether magnesium has a significant effect on high blood

pressure, it has been widely documented to maintain normal nerve and muscle function,

maintain a steady heartbeat, support a healthy immune system, and help bones to remain

strong.

A study conducted by Wanpen Vongpatanasin, MD,a,b et al, (2016), stated that a

robust action of KMgCit supplementation in reducing oxidative stress marker during

treatment, independent of BP reduction. Future studies are needed to determine effects

of KMgCit on BP and oxidative stress in patients with conditions associated with Mg or K

depletion. The major findings of our study are two-fold. First, supplementation of KCl

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induced a small but significant reduction in nocturnal BP in prehypertensive and

hypertensive subjects but had no effect on urinary 8-isoprostane. Second, KMgCit,

induced a robust decrease in a marker of oxidative stress without altering BP in the same

population, suggesting its novel anti-oxidative action.

According to Wallace, Taylor (2016) magnesium supplements are safe and

relatively low cost they could pose a practical opportunity to help hypertensive individuals

lower their blood pressure in patients with hypertension. If we already consuming 5

servings of fruits and vegetables daily, there is a likelihood that taking a supplement won’t

have the same effect. Other compounds in fruits and vegetables can also help lower your

blood pressure, so it’s good to get magnesium from the diet, when possible.

According to Kass L, et.al. (2012) there has been inconclusive evidence regarding the

effect of magnesium supplements on blood pressure (BP). This meta-analysis was

conducted to assess the effect of magnesium supplementation on BP and to establish

the characteristics of trials showing the largest effect size. Primary outcome measures

were systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) at the end of the

follow-up period. One hundred and forty-one papers were identified, of which 22 trials

with 23 sets of data (n=1173), with 3 to 24 weeks of follow-up met the inclusion criteria,

with a supplemented elemental magnesium range of 120-973 mg (mean dose 410 mg).

95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using DerSimonian and Laird's random-

effects model, with effect size calculated using Hedges G. Combining all data, an overall

effect of 0.36 and 0.32 for DBP and SBP, respectively, was observed (95% CI 0.27-0.44

for DBP and 0.23-0.41 for SBP), with a greater effect being seen for the intervention in

crossover trials (DBP 0.47, SBP 0.51). Effect size increased in line with increased

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dosage. Although not all individual trials showed significance in BP reduction, combining

all trials did show a decrease in SBP of 3-4 mm Hg and DBP of 2-3 mm Hg, which further

increased with crossover designed trials and intake >370 mg/day. To conclude,

magnesium supplementation appears to achieve a small but clinically significant

reduction in BP, an effect worthy of future prospective large randomised trials using solid

methodology.

RESEARCH PARADIGM

INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT

Nature of magnesium Testing the A magnesium citrate

citrate magnesium supplement as a
supplement as other substitute to lower
substitute to high blood pressure
Effective method of commercial products
making a magnesium
supplement
Testing the
effectiveness and
overall quality of the
supplement

Fig. 1: Conceptual Framework of Magnesium citrate as a substitute to lower high blood

pressure

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CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

The conceptual framework shows that the said project started with a knowledge of

magnesium citrate’s capabilities. The process includes comparisons of our project and

said tests of it effectiveness. As an output, we came up with having magnesium citrate as

a supplement for other products that has the ability to lower high blood pressure

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 CHAPTER III

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

The research methodology aims to create our product as our output. It shows the

materials with its description ,as well as its quantity, needed to follow the process also

indicated below.

Material

Materials Description and use

5 level tablespoons Magnesium citrate is a magnesium preparation in salt

magnesium citrate form with citric acid in a 1:1 ratio (1 magnesium atom

per citrate molecule). The name "magnesium citrate" is

ambiguous and sometimes may refer to other salts

such as trimagnesium citrate which has a

magnesium:citrate ratio of 3:2.

Gelatin or gelatine is a translucent, colorless, flavorless

food ingredient, derived from collagen taken from

animal body parts.

3 tablespoons organic gelatin

powder*

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 The liquid extract of lemon fruit, notably sour and often

condensed, as used especially in food preparation.

1 cup lemon juice, freshly

squeezed

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 1 tablespoon raw honey or organic maple Syrup is made from the circulating fluid, or

syrup sap, of sugar maple trees.

A usually whitish crystalline solid, chiefly

sodium chloride, used extensively in

ground or granulated form as a food

seasoning and preservative.

Procedure and methods

1) Slowly add the magnesium citrate to the

lemon juice in a small bowl, stirring

constantly.

2) Once mixed, pour into a pot and stir in gelatin.

3) Warm on medium heat until gelatin dissolves.

4) Mix honey. Continue heating until mixture

reduces to about 3/4 cups.

5) Pour out mixture into small baking molds

(silicone works best) and refrigerate for at

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 least 30 minutes. Store in an airtight container in the fridge and enjoy up to 5 chews

a day.

Depending on the size of the baking mold, this recipe should make approximately 35

gummies, with each delivering around 70mg of elemental magnesium.

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 CHAPTER IV

PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA

The effective gathering of data and information was made conceivable through the

use of comparison and progression of experiments. The researchers compared the

effectiveness, the cost, and the overall quality of the magnesium citrate supplement to

Candesartan Cilexetil. The comparison is presented through graphs and tables with the

exact findings through investigating and experimentation throughout the study.

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 INITIAL MONDAY FRIDAY MONDAY FRIDAY
1ST WEEK 1ST WEEK 2ND WEEK 2ND WEEK
4 mg 4 mg 8 mg 8 mg

BLOPRESS
CANDESARTAN 138/92 mmHg 127/76 mmHg 128/75 mmHg 126/79 mmHg 124/80 mmHg
CILEXETIL

MAGNESIUM
CITRATE 129/83 mmHg 127/80 127/79 mmHg 126/81 mmHg 123/81 mmHg
SUPPLEMENT mmHmg

Figure no. 2

The figure shows the results of the test conducted in a span of 2 week for each

medication. The researchers conducted the experimentation to know if the magnesium

supplement have any notable change if the dosages are increased. On the first week of

experimentation, the subject intake 4mg of each supplement for two days. On the second

week of experimentation, the subject intake 8mg of each supplement for two days. The

initial test wherein the subject did not take any supplement was done a day before the

first intake of each supplement.

The results show significant difference between the two supplements.

Candesartan Cilexetil shows a faster effect than the magnesium citrate supplement.

Thus, magnesium citrate shows a small notable change in lowering blood pressure if its

dosage increased per day.

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 Blopress Candesartan Cilextil Magnesium Citrate Supplement

Figure no. 3 Effectiveness

Effectiveness

The effectiveness of the Magnesium Citrate Supplement shows that it helps in

lowering high blood pressure. Magnesium Citrate Supplement shows a decrease on its

systolic and diastolic pressure. The magnesium supplement reduced the systolic

pressure by an average of 1.5 mmHg and diastolic pressure by 0.67 mmHg. The

candesartan cilexetil reduced the systolic pressure by an average of 3 mmHg and

diastolic pressure by 3 mmHg. The magnesium citrate supplement shows a significant

decrease of blood pressure, but it is much slower than Candesartan cilexetil.

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 Blopress Candesartan Cilexetil Magnesium Citrate Supplement

Figure no. 4 Cost

Cost

The Magnesium Citrate supplement is a low-cost medication for High Blood

Pressure with the same safety as Candesartan Cilexetil. The magnesium citrate

supplement costs PHP 3.00 per 300 mg. The Candesartan Cilexetil costs PHP 240.00

per 80mg. Magnesium citrate supplement can be a low-cost alternative since its benefits

and safety are same with commercial products.

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 Blopress Candesartan Cilexetil Magnesium Citrate Supplement

Figure no. 5 Overall quality

Overall Quality

The overall quality of the magnesium citrate supplement is determined by the

results of the experimentations. The magnesium citrate supplement is a suitable

substitute for commercial product. The supplement shows a notable change of the blood

pressure with its low-cost price. The supplement and the candesartan cilexetil both show

significant change thus; the magnesium citrate supplement is an alternative medication

for commercial products. The Magnesium Citrate supplement can be used as long-term

and an alternative medication for high blood pressure.

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 Chapter V

SUMMARY

The researchers aimed to see if magnesium is effective for lowering blood

pressure. Problems like cost, degree of change, and suggested time of use, arose. The

data collected from the two week long test show a significant difference between the

two supplements (Magnesium Citrate vs. Atacand). Although Magnesium Citrate shows

a small notable change, Candesartan Cilexetil shows a faster effect.

The total cost of all materials is Php 290.00, for 200 pieces. Which equals out

to Php 1.45. The cost of Blopress or Candesartan Cilexetil. Though Magnesium Citrate

lowers the blood pressure only notably if dosage is increased.

CONCLUSION

The overall quality of magnesium citrate as a substitute for Atacand can be

used as a long-term alternative medication, because data shows that their is a notable

change of blood pressure, and has a significant price drop compared to Candesartan

Cilexetil (Php 25.00).

RECOMMENDATIONS

The researchers recommend a higher amount of magnesium citrate to

significantly lower blood pressure as compared to 5 tbsp. worth of magnesium. The

researchers also recommend making a more concentrated solution of the mixture to

produce a stronger supplement.

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 The magnesium citrate is feasible as a substitute for commercial brands

that lower high blood pressure, if the dosage, usage, and amount of magnesium per

pill/gummy is increased.

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