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Study on the Effects of Magnesium Oxide Supplementation
on the Bone Mineral Content of Healthy Girls
Journal of Clinical Endocrinology &
Metabolism
(91, 12: 4866-4872, 2006) (doi:10.1210/jc.2006-1391).
December 31, 2006
This trial was conducted because while there have been some studies
on adults on the effects of magnesium supplementation and bone mass
there are none available on adolescents and children.
Researchers at the Yale University School of Medicine’s Clinical Research Centers wanted to find out how magnesium oxide supplementation would effect the bones of healthy young girls. The volunteers consisted of Caucasian girls selected from the offices of pediatricians in the area and were from the ages of 8 to 14 years old. The study was conducted as a placebo-controlled, randomized, one-year double blind trial.
Study Parameters
Before the study began each of the over 120 volunteers had their dietary
diary analyzed. The girls that had a daily dietary intake of magnesium
of less than 220 mg/d were asked to participate in the study. For the
next 12 months the girls that were participating were either given,
by oral administration, a placebo or 300 mg/d of elemental magnesium
as oxide in two divided doses daily.
Results of the Trial
at the End of 12 Months
In the girls that took magnesium there was an increase in bone mineral
content (bone mass) of the lumbar spine although it was only slightly
greater than the girls who took the placebo. However, when the bone
mineral content of the hips was examined the girls who took the magnesium
supplement had a significant increase (P=0.05) over the girls who took
the placebo, with trends for a positive magnesium effect being evident
in the pre- and early puberty and in mid-late puberty.
It was noted that while one group of girls took a placebo and the other a magnesium supplement the serum mineral levels, calciotropic hormones, hormones that are involved in bone remodeling such as 25-hydroxy vitamin D (250HD), 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D (1,25(OH)[2]D), calcitonin (CT) and parathormone (PTH), and other bone markers were similar.
Pill count indicated the compliance
level for the girls who took the magnesium oxide supplement in capsules
was high, 73%.
Comments:
This study helps us to appreciate that the bones are made of more than calcium. Ever since the discovery of the seriousness of osteoporosis in the United States people have been told to get as much calcium as possible. As the calcium sales and its ingestion has risen to an all-time high osteoporosis has not been reduced in the population. And while calcium is needed by the body it cannot be taken in excess or at the exclusion of the other required nutrients, one of which is magnesium. And, while the researchers used magnesium oxide to elicit the positive results listed in the trial there are better forms of magnesium which can be more efficiently absorbed and utilized by the body. They would be magnesium citrate, magnesium aspartate, di-magnesium malate, and magnesium chelate by Albion Labs.
And as for calcium the most used form in supplements is calcium carbonate, which is essentially a rock with very poor absorption. Supplement companies like to use this form because it is cheap and they can put a high dose in the serving size making the consumer feel they are a getting a really good bargain. In actuality you get very little calcium absorption, around 5 to 10%. And if you don’t have enough stomach acid, as most older people don’t, it can be even less. The best forms of calcium would be citrate, calcium ascorbate, citrate-malate, di-calcium malate, and calcium chelate by Albion Labs. Not only do these forms of calcium have superior absorption over the carbonate, they also do not require stomach acid.
Charlie Skeen
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