Magnesium is Important to Kids’ Bone Health as Calcium

Parents are advised to make sure their kids drink milk and eat other calcium-rich foods to build strong bones. Soon, they also may be urged to make sure their kids eat salmon, almonds and other meals high in nutrient magnesium -- another nutrient that may play an essential part in bone health, according to a researched presented Sunday, May 5, at the Pediatric Academic Societies (PAS) annual meeting in Washington, DC.

"Many nutrients are key for kids to have healthy and balanced bone fragments. One of these is nutrient magnesium," said lead author Steven A. Abrams MD, FAAP, professor of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. "Calcium is essential, but, except for those kids and adolescents with low intakes, may not be more essential than nutrient magnesium."

While it is known that nutrient magnesium is essential for bone health in adults, few studies have looked at whether nutrient magnesium consumption and absorption are related to bone nutrient material in youngsters. This research aimed to fill that gap.

Researchers recruited 63 healthy and balanced kids’ ages 4 to 8 years old who were not taking any multivitamins or nutrients to join in the research. Children were put in the hospital overnight twice so their magnesium and calcium nutrient levels could be calculated.

Participants filled out foods journal before hospitalization. All foods and drinks served during their hospital stay contained the same amount of magnesium and calcium nutrient they consumed in a typical day based on the journal. Foods and drinks were weighed before and after each meal to figure out how much magnesium and calcium nutrient the subjects consumed. In addition, parents were given scales to weigh their child's meals for three times at home after the first inpatient stay and for three days at home before second inpatient stay so nutritional consumption of magnesium and calcium nutrient could be calculated accurately.

While put in the hospital, children's levels of magnesium and calcium nutrient were calculated using a technique that involved giving them non-radioactive forms of magnesium and calcium nutrient, called stable isotopes, intravenously and orally. Urine was collected for 72 hours. By measuring the stable isotopes in the urine, the researchers could figure out how much magnesium and calcium nutrient were consumed into one's body system. Bone nutrient material and solidity were calculated using complete body system dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.

Results showed the amounts of nutrient magnesium consumed and absorbed were key predictors of how much bone kids had. Dietary calcium consumption, however, was not significantly associated with complete bone nutrient material or density.

"We believe it is essential for kids to have a balanced, nutritious diet with good sources of nutrients, including both magnesium and calcium nutrient," Dr. Abrams concluded.