Magnesium could prevent fractures – new finding

Magnesium could be essential for preventing fractures, says a team from the UK and Finland.

Although we know that magnesium is an essential nutrient and an important component of the bone, no study has shown its effect on bone fractures.

Experts followed 2,245 middle-aged men for 20 years. They found:

• Men with lower blood levels of magnesium had an increased risk of fractures, particularly fractures of the hip;
• The risk of having a fracture was reduced by 44% in men with higher blood levels of magnesium;
• None of the 22 men who had very high magnesium levels in the study population had a fracture during the follow-up period;
• Dietary magnesium intake was not linked with fractures.

“The overall evidence suggests that increasing serum magnesium concentrations may protect against the future risk of fractures,” comments Prof Jari Laukkanen, who led the work.

Low blood levels of magnesium are very common, especially in middle-aged and elderly people, and most do not experience any symptoms. Blood magnesium is not routinely monitored so people with low levels are difficult to identify. These findings could help trigger initiatives to include blood magnesium screening in routine blood panels, especially for the elderly.

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