Magnesium Helps Prevent Fractures

Getting adequate magnesium is critical if you want strong, healthy bones.

There is a lot of emphasis on calcium for strong bones, and you may not appreciate the importance of magnesium. Bone fractures are a leading cause of disability in older individuals and can significantly reduce quality of life and shorten lifespan. It’s important to think about strengthening your bones starting in your 30s. Osteoporosis sneaks up on a lot of people and they only pay attention to their bones once the disease is advanced.

In a study published in the European Journal of Epidemiology, researchers at the Universities of Bristol and Eastern Finland studied 2,245 middle aged men for 20 years. They discovered that men with lower blood levels of magnesium had an increased risk of fractures, especially hip fractures. The risk of experiencing a fracture was reduced by 44 per cent in men with higher blood magnesium levels. Interestingly, none of the studied 22 men who had very high magnesium levels suffered a fracture during the study period.

The amount of magnesium in your blood is determined by how much magnesium you obtain through your diet. However, for some people it is simply not possible to get enough magnesium this way. In elderly people magnesium absorption through food is usually poor. People with digestive problems, and those on certain medications (such as blood pressure drugs) cannot get enough magnesium through diet. Therefore supplementation becomes necessary.

Having low blood magnesium usually does not produce any symptoms. Some people experience muscle cramps, aching muscles, anxiety and poor sleep quality. Other people don’t realise they have a problem until they experience a fracture.