Magnesium Benefits Bone Health

By Hans R. Larsen MSc ChE – http://www.afibbers.org/magnesium.html

MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE. Magnesium could be as important to bone health as calcium, new research suggests. A team from the University of Tennessee investigated the links between magnesium intake and bone mineral density (BMD) by studying data on 2,038 black and white men and women aged between 70 and 79 years. The participants were enrolled in the Health, Aging and Body Composition Study (Health ABC) initiated in 1996 by the Geriatric Epidemiology Section of the National Institute on Aging. Participants were given tests to measure their BMD, and the results were compared with data from questionnaires covering food and supplement intake of magnesium. Analysis showed that magnesium intake was significantly linked to higher BMD throughout the whole body, but only in the white men and women. The effect was stronger in women than men – BMD was higher by 0.04g per square centimeter in women and 0.02g/cm2 higher in men in the top fifth for magnesium intake compared with the bottom fifth. This effect was independent of several other factors including age, osteoporosis or bone fractures, calorie intake, calcium and vitamin D intake, BMI, smoking, alcohol and exercise.

The researchers believe that magnesium’s role is similar to that of calcium. They calculate that for every 100 milligram per day increase in magnesium intake, there is a one per cent increase in BMD. They report that although this one per cent increase seems small, across a population it may have large impact, and explain that most older adults get far less than the recommended daily allowance of magnesium (320 mg/day for women and 420/mg day for men). They add that black people might process vitamin D and other calcium regulating hormones slightly differently to whites, but magnesium may still have an association with BMD. Previous observational and clinical studies have suggested an association between low magnesium status and increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, osteoporosis, diabetes, and other chronic diseases.

Ryder, K.M. et al. Magnesium Intake from Food and Supplements Is Associated with Bone Mineral Density in Healthy Older White Subjects. The Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, Vol. 53, November 2005, pp. 1875-80