Magnesium Strengthens Bones

NEW HAVEN, Conn.Magnesium (Mg) significantly increased bone mineral content (BMC) of the hip bone, and also slightly in the lumbar spine, in girls in pre- and early puberty and in mid-to-late puberty. The prospective, placebo-controlled, randomized, one-year double blind trial was conducted in the Clinical Research Centers at Yale University School of Medicine and included healthy Caucasian girls ages 8 to 14 years recruited from community pediatricians offices. Dietary diaries from over 120 volunteers were analyzed, and those with dietary Mg intake of less than 220 mg/d were invited to participate in the trial. Participants were then given a total of 300 mg/d elemental Mg in twodivided doses or placebo (orally) for 12 months. There was a significant increased accrual (P = 0.05) in the integrated hip BMC in the Mg-supplemented group compared to placebo. Trends for a positive Mg effect were evident in the pre- and early puberty and in mid-late puberty. Lumbar spinal BMC accrual was slightly (but not significantly) greater in the Mg-treated group. Participant compliance was excellent; 73 percent of capsules were ingested. Serum mineral levels, calciotropic hormones, and bone markers were similar between groups. Researchers also concluded oral Mg oxide capsules are safe and well tolerated, and a positive effect of Mg supplementation on integrated hip BMC was evident in this small cohort.
The study was published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (91, 12: 4866-4872, 2006) (doi:10.1210/jc.2006-1391).