MAGNESIUM
AND OSTEOPOROSIS
The original question on Amazon
asked, “I’ve been on neuro-mag (sic) for 3 months and love it. I was
recently told that I may have osteoporosis. Is L-threonate going to help my
bones?”
Neuro-Mag is the trade name by
Life Extension Labs for their formulation of Magnesium threonate, a highly
bioavailable form of magnesium that crosses the blood-brain barrier, unlike
other formulations of the mineral. I take Neuro-Mag and love it. It creates
calmness within me, and has a lower risk of diarrhea, one of the more
unpleasant side-effects of magnesium supplementation. I also have no financial
interest in either Life Extension or any other supplement manufacturer. As
always, follow my advice with a jaundiced eye, and run any of my recommendations
by your health care provider before starting ANYTHING new.
Elemental magnesium is vital
for many physiological processes, including energy production, muscle and nerve
function, and bone strength. I take the supplement because it is essential to
functioning cardiac muscles and because I am starting to have slight problems
with my memory. The most obvious issue is word searching, or the “it’s at the
tip of my tongue” phenomenon. It also lowers blood pressure by relaxing the
smooth muscle that lines the interiors of our arteries. But to specifically
answer the question, I am going to quote the National Institutes of Health:
Magnesium is important for healthy bones. People with higher
intakes of magnesium have a higher bone mineral density,
which is important in reducing the risk of bone fractures and osteoporosis. Getting more
magnesium from foods or dietary supplements might help older women improve
their bone mineral density. More research is needed to better understand
whether magnesium supplements can help reduce the risk of osteoporosis or treat
this condition.1
Dosing of supplementation has been established through research. Three capsules of Neuro-Mag provide 144 mg of elemental magnesium. That is my current dose: one capsule in the morning and two at night. Not only is it calming as a sleep aid, but I would much rather have diarrhea while I am close to a toilet! The second link below lists the proven benefits of magnesium.2
The following chart lists the Recommended Daily Allowances (RDA) based on sex, age, and pregnancy/lactation status. Remember to always run it by your provider first: 3
|
Category |
Recommended
Dietary Allowance (RDA) |
|
CHILDREN |
|
|
1-3
years |
80
mg/day |
|
4-8
years |
130
mg/day |
|
9-13
years |
240
mg/day |
|
FEMALES |
|
|
14-18
years |
360
mg/day |
|
19-30
years |
310
mg/day |
|
31
years and over |
320
mg/day |
|
Pregnant |
Under
19 years: 400 mg/day |
|
Under
19 years: 360 mg/day |
|
|
MALES |
|
|
14-18
years |
410
mg/day |
|
19-30
years |
400
mg/day |
|
31
years and up |
420
mg/day |
1. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Magnesium-Consumer/
2. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/10-proven-magnesium-benefits
3. https://www.webmd.com/diet/supplement-guide-magnesium#
