| This widely sold, economical form of magnesium, | | | | about 400 milligrams of calcium per day and have far |
| magnesium oxide, is preferred by dietary supplement | | | | fewer hip fractures, the primary reason why mineral |
| manufacturers because it is 70% elemental | | | | supplements are consumed. |
| magnesium and only 30% carrier (oxide). But only | | | | Deduct 800 mg from 1200 mg and postmenopausal |
| 4% of magnesium oxide is absorbed. | | | | women only need 400 mg from supplements to |
| So a person taking 400 milligrams of magnesium | | | | meet the recommended daily intake. |
| oxide, the commonly provided dose in supplements, | | | | Side Effects And Risks Of Calcium Supplements |
| would effectively absorb only 16 milligrams. Other | | | | Excessive intake of calcium produces calcified |
| forms of magnesium in dietary supplements, such as | | | | arteries, kidney stones, calcified heart valves, |
| glycinate, malate, citrate, roughly provide 30% | | | | hypertension, constipation, and muscle spasms |
| elemental magnesium, and about 30-50% is absorbed. | | | | (migraines, heart flutters, backaches). |
| So about 120-200 milligrams of a 400- milligram | | | | But even 400 mg of supplemental calcium will not |
| magnesium citrate supplement gets absorbed. | | | | delay or prevent osteoporosis. Recently an |
| The companies that make mineral supplements often | | | | investigator analyzed the data behind the idea that |
| list an amount on the label for the total amount of | | | | bone density prevents fractures. Strikingly, he found |
| mineral complex, not the elemental amount of | | | | that in countries with a high bone mass density, |
| magnesium or calcium, which are bulky minerals. | | | | fracture rates in the elderly are significantly higher. |
| So consumers have little chance of knowing if they | | | | This is not based upon genetic differences. His report |
| are getting the amount of calcium and magnesium | | | | concluded: "Bone mass density does not represent |
| they need. Magnesium oxide shouldn't even be sold. | | | | long-term bone health, but merely momentary bone |
| Ask your supplier, how much elemental calcium and | | | | strength." Thijs R. Klompmaker of the Netherlands |
| magnesium is in your product? | | | | says adequate estrogen levels preserve bone health, |
| Do Calcium Supplements Work? | | | | not supplemental calcium. [Medical Hypotheses 65: |
| Calcium is an essential, but over-promoted, mineral. | | | | 552-58, 2005] |
| It's widely acclaimed function is to maintain bones | | | | The dairy products industry influenced government |
| since it is the primary mineral in the skeleton. | | | | health authorities to over-promote calcium and the |
| Ask any pharmacist, physician or dietician about how | | | | doctors, dieticians and pharmacists, and supplement |
| much supplemental calcium is needed to prevent | | | | manufacturers, blindly went along with this false idea. |
| age-related bone loss (osteoporosis) and they are | | | | Another obvious fact: why do women develop |
| likely to come up with the figure of 1200 milligrams | | | | osteoporosis with greater severity than men? One |
| per day. | | | | reason is that women live a bit longer. But the |
| But that figure was produced by a government panel | | | | primary reason is that they stopped producing |
| of experts that said 1200 milligram recommendation | | | | estrogen, which sends a signal to hold calcium in |
| was the combination of the diet plus supplements. | | | | bones. |
| Most doctors and dietary supplement manufacturers | | | | It's obvious, women need to replace estrogen, but in |
| provide the full 1200 milligrams of calcium with no | | | | more mild ways than estrogen-replacement therapy. |
| regard for dietary intake, which is about 800 | | | | The evident answer is to consume plant estrogens |
| milligrams per day. | | | | (isoflavones from soy, lignans from flaxseed), that |
| For comparison, Japanese women consume only | | | | are about 1/1000th the strength of human estrogen). |