Magnesium deficiency may be important in the development of osteoporosis.
Dalderup LM: The role of magnesium in osteoporosis and idiopathic
hypercalcaemia. Voeding 21:424-434, 1960
Serum vitamin K levels were found to be much lower in 51 elderly women with
hip fractures compared with controls. A large number had undetectable levels
of vitamin K. The investigators conclude that elderly patients with hip
fracture have vitamin K deficiency. Hodges SJ et al: Circulating levels of
vitamins K1 and K2 decreased in elderly women with hip fracture. J Bone
Miner Res 8(10):1241-5, 1993
Those who followed a lactovegetarian diet for at least 20 years had only
18% less bone mineral by age 80 compared with 35% less bone in matched
meat-eaters. Marsh AG et al: Vegetarian lifestyle and bone mineral density. Am
J Clin Nutr 48(3 Suppl):837-41, 1988.
In an analysis of 560 calcium balance studies carried out on 190 women aged
34-69, it was found that to maintain calcium balance, an additional intake of
40 mg calcium is required for every 6 fluid ounce (177.5 ml) serving of
caffeine-containing coffee consumed. Barger-Lux MJ et al: Caffeine and the
calcium economy revisited. Osteoporos Int 5(2):97-102, 1995.
In a study on 13 individuals consuming a beverage containing 2 grams of
added sugar per kilo body weight, it was found that there were significant
calcium losses in urine. Holl MG et al: Sucrose ingestion, insulin response
and mineral metabolism in humans. J Nutr 117(7):1229-33, 1987.
The intake of 14 nutrients was measured in 159 women aged 23-75 and
compared with bone mineral density. No correlation with calcium intake was
found. Higher bone density was associated with higher intakes of iron, zinc
and magnesium. Angus RM et al: Dietary intake and bone mineral density. Bone
Miner 4(3):265-77, 1988.
Recent studies in young women have shown that a diet high in phosphorus
(which is often hidden in the form of food additives) and moderately low in
calcium results in the over-secretion of parathyroid hormone, leading to
increased calcium losses from bone which can persist for four weeks. Calvo MS:
The effeects of high phosphorus intake on calcium homeostasis. Adv Nutr Res
9:183-207, 1994.
Healthy older postmenopausal women with a daily calcium intake of less than
400 mg can significantly reduce bone loss by increasing their calcium intake to
800 mg per day. Dawson-Hughes B et al: A controlled trial of the effect of
calcium supplementation on bone density in postmenopausal women. N Engl J Med
328:878-83, 1990.
Vitamin K is required for mineralization of the bone matrix and if
supplemented can help to increase the bone mass. Price PA: Vitamin K nutrition
and postmenopausal osteoporosis. J Clin Invest 91(4):1268, 1993. Douglas
AS et al: Carboxylation of osteocalcin in post-menopausal osteoporotic women
following vitamin K and D supplementation. Bone 17(1)15-20, 1995
Undercarboxylation of bone protein (a factor which promotes osteoporosis) is
frequently found in postmenopausal women. Supplementation of these women with
vitamin K results in an increase in these markers for bone formation, and a
reduction in bone loss. Vermeer C et al: Effects of vitamin K on bone mass and
bone metabolism. J Nutr 126(4 Suppl):1187S-91S, 1996.
The effect of magnesium-emphasized supplementation on bone density in a group
of postmenopausal women on hormone-replacement therapy was 16 times greater than
that of dietary advice alone. Abraham GE: The importance of magesium in the
management of primary postmenopausal osteoporosis. J Nutr Med 2:165-178,
1991.
The supplementation of 12 postmenopausal women with boron reduced the total
plasma concentration of calcium and the urinary excretion of calcium and
magnesium and elevated the serum concentrations of oestradiol and testosterone.
Nielsen FH: Biochemical and physiologic consequences of boron deprivation in
humans. Environ Health Perspect 102 Suppl 7:59-63, 1994.
The published literature does not support the value of calcium megadoses
against post-menopausal osteoporosis. Magnesium supplementation may be more
important. When a magnesium-emphasizing programme was given to 19 postmenopausal
women on hormone replacement therapy, a significant increase in mineral bone
density occurred within one year. Abraham GE et al: A total dietary program
emphasizing magnesium instead of calcium. Effect on the mineral density of
calcaneous bone in postmenopausal women on hormone therapy. J Reprod Med
35(5):503-7, 1990.
In a controlled trial on 31 healthy women aged 50-73 years assessing the
effeects of an exercise programme on bone density, it was found that the lumbar
spine bone mineral content of the exercise group increased by 3.5% while in the
control group it decreased by 2.7%. Krolner B et al: Physical exercise as
prophylaxis against involutional vertebral bone loss: a controlled trial. Clin
Sci 64(5):541-6, 1983.
Available evidence indicates that postmenopausal women should consume
1,000-1,500 mg of calcium and 400-800 iu of vitamin D daily to minimize bone
loss. Vitamin D appears to enhance the effectiveness of supplemental calcium.
Dawson-Hughes B et al: Calcium and vitamin D nutritional needs of elderly women.
J Nutr 126 (4 Suppl):1165S-7S, 1996.
59 healthy postmenopausal women were given calcium supplements, calcium plus
zinc, manganese and copper, or placebo, and the rate of bone loss was evaluated
over two years. The only significant difference occurred between the placebo and
calcium plus trace mineral groups, suggesting that bone loss in
calcium-supplemented postmenopausal women can be further arrested by also
administering trace minerals. Strause L et al: Spinal bone loss in
postmenopausal women supplemented with calcium and trace minerals. J Nutr
124(7):1060-4, 1994.
