A Summary of a Magnesium Cross-Sectional Study by Welch et al. (2017)
Reviewed by Tamberlyn Blinsink, ND, MPH | Research & Development
Overview
The following summary reviews cross-sectional research examining dietary magnesium intake in the context of skeletal muscle mass, grip strength, and bone mineral density in middle-aged and older-aged men and women. The study drew from the UK Biobank cohort and sought to investigate whether dietary magnesium intake is associated with musculoskeletal health outcomes in this population, given that magnesium plays integral roles in both bone and muscle physiology. To the authors’ knowledge, no prior study had investigated dietary magnesium in relation to bone and skeletal muscle health concurrently in the same cohort, while also analyzing data independently in men and women.
Summary
Dietary Magnesium May Be Protective for Aging of Bone and Skeletal Muscle in Middle and Younger Older Age Men and Women: Cross-Sectional Findings from the UK Biobank Cohort
Published in: Nutrients
Study Design: Cross-sectional observational study
Participants: 156,575 men and women aged 39–72 years from the UK Biobank cohort (73,323 men and 82,098 women in skeletal muscle analyses; 36,118 men and 40,441 women in bone mineral density analyses)
Dose: Not applicable; dietary magnesium intake was assessed observationally using sex-specific quintiles derived from up to five self-completed 24-hour dietary recall questionnaires (Oxford WebQ)
Outcome Measures: Hand grip strength (Jamar hydraulic dynamometer); fat-free mass percentage (FFM%) and fat-free mass indexed to BMI (FFMBMI) via bioelectrical impedance (Tanita BC 418MA); appendicular lean mass indexed to BMI (ALMBMI); heel bone mineral density via quantitative ultrasound (Sahara Clinical Bone Sonometer)
What Was Studied: Researchers examined cross-sectional associations between dietary magnesium intake and three domains of musculoskeletal health—skeletal muscle mass, hand grip strength, and heel bone mineral density—in a large population of middle-aged and older-aged men and women from the UK Biobank cohort. Dietary magnesium was estimated from repeated 24-hour dietary recalls and categorized into sex-specific quintiles, with adjusted means for each musculoskeletal outcome calculated across quintiles using multivariable regression. Analyses were conducted separately for men and women and were adjusted for a range of covariates including age, physical activity, smoking status, dietary protein, energy intake, supplement use, and, for women, hormone replacement therapy use and menopausal status. Secondary analyses stratified participants by age group (below and above 60 years) to assess whether associations differed across the age range studied.
About the Reviewer
Name & Title: Tamberlyn Blinsink, Scientific Researcher at Solaray
Credentials: Naturopathic Doctor, Master of Public Health
Bio: Tamberlyn Blinsink, ND, MPH, a licensed naturopath who earned her Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine from Bastyr University and her Master of Public Health from Purdue University. In addition to her experience in private practice, Dr. Blinsink, ND, MPH is a researcher in the natural products industry. She believes in giving back and has served as a lecturer at continuing education conferences and as a board member at Naturopaths Without Borders and NC Association of Naturopathic Physicians.
References
Welch AA, Skinner J, Hickson M. Dietary Magnesium May Be Protective for Aging of Bone and Skeletal Muscle in Middle and Younger Older Age Men and Women: Cross-Sectional Findings from the UK Biobank Cohort. Nutrients. 2017;9(11):1189. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29084183/