Magnesium Intake Increases Bone Mineral Density in the Elderly

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Magnesium Intake Increases Bone Mineral Density in the Elderly

Osteoporotic fractures represent a significant health risk in the elderly population; in some age groups, the risk of clinical fracture may be as high as 75 percent. The lower a person's bone mineral density (BMD), the higher the risk of developing osteoporotic fractures.

While calcium is considered one of the most important minerals in the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis, little research exists on the role intake of another mineral, magnesium, plays on BMD in the elderly.
In this cross-sectional cohort study, researchers compared magnesium intake from supplemental and dietary sources in relation to BMD in 2,038 men and women ages 70 to 79. Dietary intake of magnesium was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire, while supplemental magnesium intake was collected based on a medication inventory. BMD was obtained using a densitometer, with additional data collected on body mass index, alcohol use, physical activity, and supplemental intake of calcium and vitamin D.
Results: Less than 26 percent of the study population met the recommended daily allowance for magnesium intake (320 milligrams per day for women aged 70 and older; 420 milligrams per day for men). After adjusting for energy intake, total magnesium intake through food and supplements was positively associated with increased bone mineral density in white, but not black, men and women. For every 100 milligrams per day increase in magnesium, the researchers noted an approximate 2 percent increase in whole-body BMD. The researchers were unable to explain the lack of such an association in black men and women, but postulated that differences in calciotropic hormones or responses to nutrients in milk could play a role.
Conclusion: "This investigation shows that magnesium intake is associated with total-body BMD in older white women and men ... Dietary surveys show that a large percentage of older adults do not meet the RDA or even the EAR [estimated average requirement] for magnesium, resulting in a population at risk for magnesium deficiency. Higher magnesium intake through dietary change or supplementation may provide an additional strategy for the prevention of osteoporosis."
Ryder KM, Shorr RI, Bush AJ, et al. Magnesium intake from food and supplements is associated with bone mineral density in healthy older white subjects. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society November 2005;52(11):1875-1880.