Bones grow better with high level of magnesium: rat study – Dec 2013

The effects of magnesium supplementation in diets with different calcium levels on the bone status and bone metabolism in growing female rats.

Biol Trace Elem Res. 2013 Dec;155(3):431-8. doi: 10.1007/s12011-013-9798-1.
Bae YJ, Kim MH. mhkim1129@kangwon.ac.kr
1. Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, Hanbuk University, Dongducheon, 483-120, South Korea
2. Department of Food and Nutrition, Kangwon National University, Samcheok, 245-749, South Korea

Previous studies have revealed that magnesium (Mg) plays a significant role in bone health; however, few studies have investigated the effects of Mg supplementation in diets with different calcium (Ca) levels on the bone status and bone metabolism in a growing stage. In this present study, we tested the effects of Mg supplementation on bone status in growing female rats, relative to Ca intake levels. A total of 40 Sprague-Dawley female rats aged 6 weeks were divided into the following four groups and fed for 12 weeks as indicated:

  • (1) LCaAMg: low Ca (Ca, 0.1 % of total diet) and adequate Mg (Mg, 0.05 % of total diet),
  • (2) LCaHMg: low Ca and high Mg ( Mg, 0.1 % of total diet),
  • (3) ACaAMg: adequate Ca (Ca, 0.5 % of total diet) and adequate Mg, and
  • (4) ACaHMg: adequate Ca and high Mg.

Our results showed that Mg supplementation with the adequate Ca diet significantly increased the

  • bone mineral contents,
  • bone size (bone area and bone thickness), and
  • bone mineral density of femur or tibia
    by improving bone metabolism without changing Ca absorption.

Mg supplementation significantly increased the serum osteocalcin in the adequate-Ca-diet group (p < 0.05), while the Mg supplementation significantly decreased the serum level of C-telopeptide cross-links of type I collagen in the adequate-Ca-diet group (p < 0.001). This study suggests that Mg supplementation with adequate Ca intake in the growing stage may increase the bone mineral density and bone size by improving bone metabolism.

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See also VitaminDWiki

Magnesium decline

Computation for child consumption of magnesium
1 lbs (assumed) X 0.1% = .001 lbs
Since there are 454 grams per pound
Magnesium = 454 gram

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