Magnesium is Vital for the Prevention of Osteoporosis

It has long been known that a magnesium rich diet of fresh fruit and vegetables is associated with better bone health, regardless of calcium intake.  A new study documents precise mechanisms explaining why magnesium is indispensable to healthy bones and the prevention of osteoporosis.

Osteoblasts are your important bone building carpenter cells.  The research shows that when they run low on magnesium they get in a bad mood and start cranking out a highly inflammatory signal (inducible nitric oxide – iNOS Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase. This enzyme influences genes located in the neuro-immune and cardiovascular system and provides immune defense against pathogens and contributes to disease progression including neurogenic inflammation (iNOS2). ).  This results in two adverse outcomes for bones.

First, the iNOS Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase. This enzyme influences genes located in the neuro-immune and cardiovascular system and provides immune defense against pathogens and contributes to disease progression including neurogenic inflammation (iNOS2). prevents the generation of new osteoblasts.  In essence the bones are reasoning that if there is not enough magnesium then the intake of nutrients for building bone is probably lacking, so there is no need for any more carpenters.  As far as bones are concerned the lack of magnesium is signaling a housing crisis and the magnesium-needing osteoblasts are headed for the unemployment line.

Second, the increase of iNOS Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase. This enzyme influences genes located in the neuro-immune and cardiovascular system and provides immune defense against pathogens and contributes to disease progression including neurogenic inflammation (iNOS2). within bone triggers excessive activation of the demo crew known as osteoclasts Type of bone cell that removes old, damaged bone by the process bone resorption..  The adverse inflammatory increase of osteoclast activity combined with a relative decrease of osteoblast activity is the hallmark of bone loss, eventually leading to osteoporosis.

Magnesium deficiency is common in just about anyone struggling with virtually any ongoing health issue.  Magnesium is rapidly depleted by stress and lost in sweat (from exercise).  It is typical in individuals who feel agitated, irritated, anxious, and/or have trouble sleeping.  It isn’t the only reason for these issues but it certainly is a common finding in any of them.

In addition to a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, supplemental high quality magnesium (not magnesium oxide), ranging in daily doses from 200 mg on the low end up to 800 mg on the high end can be quite helpful in replenishing magnesium status.  Remember, your bones take the brunt of all the stressors in your life.  Adequate magnesium is basic for your bones and vital for many other aspects of health.

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Certain Genetic Regions May Be Tied to Osteoporosis

HealthDay – 9 hrs ago SUNDAY, April 15 (HealthDay News) -- A large international group of researchers has identified 32 new genetic regions linked to fractures and osteoporosis.

Variations in these regions could offer protection from, or greater risk for, bone-weakening disease, the investigators reported in a new study published in the April 15 online edition of Nature Genetics.

The study authors added that their findings could lead to the development of new osteoporosis drugs.

"We're learning that the genetic architecture of disease is very complex," one of the study's authors and the methodological leader of the consortium, Dr. John Ioannidis, chief of the Stanford Prevention Research Center, said in a university news release.

The research, which involved 17 studies that compared common genetic variants in more than 100,000 people, pinpointed six regions linked to risk of fractures of the femur (thigh bone) or lower back.

The study authors pointed out, however, that it would still be difficult to predict who is at greater risk for bone disease. People with the highest number of variants associated with decreased bone mineral density were only about one and a half times more likely than people with an average number of variants to have osteoporosis. The risk for fractures was only slightly higher.

Meanwhile, compared to those with the fewest variants, people with the most variants were still just three to four times more likely to have had fractures and lower bone mineral density, the study revealed.

"As a result, the next step of incorporating this information into basic patient care is not clear," Ioannidis concluded. "Each variant conveys a small quantum of risk or benefit. We can't predict exactly who will or won't get a fracture."

The authors noted, however, that by identifying some previously unsuspected pathways involved in bone health, their research could lead to the development of new anti-osteoporosis drugs. But even larger studies are needed to identify all of the genes critical to fighting bone disease, they added.

"We saw many of these regions and genes clustering within specific types of pathways, which suggests certain disease mechanisms. It certainly wouldn't be unexpected to eventually identify many more genetic regions involved in the regulation of osteoporosis and fracture risk," Ioannidis said.

"In reality, there may be 500 or more gene variants regulating osteoporosis. To find all of them, we'll need to study millions of patients. Is this unrealistic? I don't think so. Sooner or later this will be feasible," he added.

More information

The U.S. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases has more about bone-weakening diseases.

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Osteoporosis Drugs May Lead to Eye Trouble: Study

HealthDay – 1 hr 44 mins ago MONDAY, April 2 (HealthDay News) -- First-time users of osteoporosis drugs called oral bisphosphonates may be at increased risk for serious inflammatory eye disease, a new study contends.

Oral bisphosphonates, such as Fosamax and Actonel, are the most commonly prescribed class of drugs to prevent or slow osteoporosis, a disease that causes very weak bones. Previous studies have linked the drugs to problems such as unusual fractures, irregular heartbeat and esophageal and colon cancer.

In addition, some case reports have shown an association between the drugs and inflammatory eye diseases -- anterior uveitis and scleritis -- that can cause serious vision impairment.

In this new study, Canadian researchers compared nearly 11,000 first-time users of oral bisphosphonates and more than 920,000 non-users. First-time users had incidence rates of 29 per 10,000 person-years for uveitis and 63 per 10,000 person-years for scleritis, compared with 20 per 10,000 and 36 per 10,000, respectively, for non-users. Per-person years are determined by multiplying the number of participants by the number of years the drugs are taken.

The study is published April 2 in the journal CMAJ.

"We found that first-time users of bisphosphonates are at an increased risk of scleritis and uveitis," wrote Dr. Mahyar Etminan, of the Child and Family Research Institute and the Department of Medicine at the University of British Columbia, and colleagues in a journal news release.

"Our study highlights the need for clinicians to inform their patients about the signs and symptoms of scleritis and uveitis, so that prompt treatment may be sought and further complications averted," they added.

More information

The National Osteoporosis Foundation has more about osteoporosis medications.

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