Magnesium is one of the major minerals and a study recently published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society (November 2005, Vol 53, No 11, pp 1875-1880) suggests that it may have a role in increasing bone density.

In the study the amount of magnesium in the diet of over 2000 people in their 70’s were analyzed. They compared the amount of magnesium they were getting to their bone density and facture rate from soft bones.

The RDA for magnesium for those over 70 is 320 for women and 420 for men. Only around 25% of the people in this study were getting RDA levels in their diets.

The authors of the study found that increasing the magnesium intake resulted in greater bone mineral density and less fractures. This effect was seen in both men and women who are white, but not in those that are black.

So make sure you eat foods that contain reasonable amounts of magnesium!

Some foods that are high in magnesium include: spinach, tofu, sunflower seeds, legumes, shrimp and brocoli.

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