Magnesium intake, bone mineral density, and fractures: results from the Women’s Health Initiative Observational Study

Abstract

Lower magnesium intake is associated with lower BMD of the hip and whole body, but this result does not translate into increased risk of fractures. A magnesium consumption slightly greater than the Recommended Dietary Allowance is associated with increased lower-arm and wrist fractures that are possibly related to more physical activity and falls.

Dietary magnesium and potassium intakes and circulating magnesium are associated with heel bone ultrasound attenuation and osteoporotic fracture risk in the EPIC-Norfolk cohort study ,

“…However, a recent US study (7) of postmenopausal women found no difference in relative risk of hip and total fractures across quintiles of magnesium intake. Conversely, high magnesium intake ($422.5 mg/d) was associated with increased falls and wrist or lower arm fractures (7). By contrast, our analyses show a statistically significant reduction in hip fracture risk with moderately high (206-442 mg/d; quintile 4) combined magnesium and potassium intakes and no significant increases in risk of wrist fracture in either men or women in fully adjusted models, although it is acknowledged that the 95% CIs for wrist fracture risk are wide.…”

“…Metabolism of magnesium and potassium is linked because magnesium is required for effective Na + /K + -ATPase pump function (17), magnesium and potassium have additive effects in preventing an increase in the endogenous sodium potassium pump inhibitor (16), and both have direct and indirect effects on calcium homeostasis (9,18). Previous studies of the association of dietary magnesium and potassium with bone health have had limited generalizability because of their focus on discrete population groups, such as narrow age range groups of relatively old (5,19) or young individuals (20), restrictions to premenopausal (8,20) or postmenopausal women only (13), and non-United Kingdom residents (5,7,20). Indeed, the most recent and comprehensive study, with a large cohort size and longitudinal analysis of fracture risk, was also limited to women only (7).…”

“…Previous studies of the association of dietary magnesium and potassium with bone health have had limited generalizability because of their focus on discrete population groups, such as narrow age range groups of relatively old (5,19) or young individuals (20), restrictions to premenopausal (8,20) or postmenopausal women only (13), and non-United Kingdom residents (5,7,20). Indeed, the most recent and comprehensive study, with a large cohort size and longitudinal analysis of fracture risk, was also limited to women only (7). The current study therefore aimed to explore potential associations of dietary magnesium and potassium intakes and circulating magnesium with bone density status, as well as risk of incident osteoporotic fractures in a general population of men and women in the United Kingdom, by using a measure of broadband ultrasound attenuation (BUA) 5 of the calcaneus and records of incident fractures of the hip, spine, and wrist.…”

Cardiovascular Calcification and Bone: A Comparison of The Effects of Dietary and Serum Calcium, Phosphorous, Magnesium and Vitamin D

“…Dietary and serum, but not red cell, magnesium were generally lower among the elderly with osteoporosis 45,86,109 and among healthy older adults, magnesium intake was positively associated with BMD, BMC and bone mass 86,[110][111] , with an intake of >422.5mg/d vs <206.5 mg/d improving BMD 110 . A large multiethnic study found that this association may apply to older whites but not blacks 112 .…”

“…Some studies also found an association with BMD in younger women [113][114] . Study results are mixed with respect to intake and fracture risk 84,110,115 and among Japanese subjects low serum magnesium was associated with increased fracture incidence 116 . Short term intervention studies Mechanism by which high serum phosphate (P) impacts the parathyroid gland and kidney to lower serum P…”