As much as 50% of the body’s magnesium is found in the bones, pointing to the importance of magnesium to bone health. While calcium is the central mineral in bone mineralization or calcification, the quality of the calcium crystals formed is profoundly dependent on magnesium. When too little magnesium is available, the calcium crystals are weaker permitting fractures to occur, even when consistent efforts have been made to consume the recommended daily calcium supplements. It is a clinical fact that some women with thinned bones have not encountered fractures when they might otherwise have been expected to have, while others have encountered fractures of bones with greater radiographic density. When magnesium is supplied with calcium on at least a 2:1 ratio, the bones undergo a stronger calcification. When seeking to reverse osteoporosis, some experts advocate a 1:1 ratio of calcium and magnesium. Magnesium is an essential mineral for good health and developing strong bones and teeth. Calcium supplementation should always be matched by magnesium to optimize calcium utilization and for magnesium’s own important health contributions.
