I’ve been reading an interesting book on healthy eating for kids called "Superimmunity for Kids - What to feed your children to keep them healthy now and prevent disease in the future" by Leo Galland, MD

I’m only 1/2 way through the book and have already run into 2 passages that made me think of CAH.

First, the author mentioned that salt is an "anti-nutrient" because it increases the amount of magnesium lost in the urine. I sort of skimmed past that part - being used to general medical statements not necessarily applying to people with CAH.

Then I ran into a section on colic. The author made a connection between stress hormones and the amount of magnesium secreted in the urine.  He said that babies with colic (and other symptoms like being fussy, cranky, and irritable) are generally helped by taking magnesium. He says they need more magnesium in their diet, perhaps because the hormones secreted during chronic high levels of stress (cortisol?) trigger greater than normal excretion of magnesium in urine. 

He also discusses behavioral disturbances such as "sleeps irregularly and restlessly." He says, "Often these children are more alert, more inquisitive, and brighter than other youngsters their age. They may even have reached certain developmental milestones earlier. But their poor adaptability and their negative moods can make them very hard to live with." He goes on to say these are often a result of a magnesium deficiency which in turn results in a calcium deficiency.

His description of behavioral symptoms of magnesium deficiency fit my son, now 5, to a tee. He was a very colicky infant, always has and continues to be, a restless and irregular sleeper, gets very negative and cranky, and although he loves lots of stimulation, he gets overstimulated frequently.

Also,  I have noticed over the years there have been quite a few posts asking if there is a connection between some behavioral concerns and CAH. And also quite a few posts from adults with CAH mentioning that their bone density was often too low and recommending calcium supplements.

I am wondering if my son may have a magnesium deficiency. Have any of you ever heard of this? Do these descriptions ring a bell with anyone else?  Anyone know whether they can run a blood test for magnesium levels.

And if you made it to here - THANKS for reading this too-long-post. I guess I am feeling a little chatty today.