How much magnesium? - Osteoporosis Message Board

Linni · 08-26-2005, 02:13 PM

I read that calcium is better with Vit. D and magnesium. The calcium pills I have have Vit D in them, but not magnesium. (I bought this HUGE jar that I have to use up.) My question is this - how much magnesium should I take. I take around 1200 gms of Calcium per day, and I guess the magnesium should be taken at the same time I take the Calcium, right?

Thanks!

Linni

PatNJ · 08-26-2005, 07:38 PM

Linni, I just checked several different brands of calcium-magnesium supplements online, to see what was the "typical" amount of magnesium contained in them, compared with the amount of calcium.

Unfortunately, my findings were all over the place... ranging from a 5:1 calcium:magnesium ratio to a 1:1 ratio.

Personally, I wouldn't recommend that you take more than 250 mg magnesium daily without checking with your doctor.

FYI: There are products on the market that contain all three -- calcium, D, and magnesium. When you finish your humongous bottle of calcium and D, you might want to look into one of those.

taape · 08-26-2005, 08:01 PM

My doctor told me to take Citracal which has Vit D but no magnesium. If it's not combined in the calcium pill then would one need to take it separately 3 times a day when taking their Calcium?

PatNJ · 08-26-2005, 08:15 PM

Good question, taape.

No answer (yet).

CrohnieToo · 08-27-2005, 05:25 AM

My understanding is that magnesium is especially important for those of us for whom calcium causes constipation. I was thinking that the recommended dosage was 2 parts calcium to 1 part magnesium but I may have that mixed up with a calcium/vitamin D ratio. Watch for diarrhea with magnesium and reduce your dose if you run into it.

From what I have read calcium carbonate is the most common calcium supplement and the one most likely to cause constipation. Calcium citrate is less likely to constipate. A little harder to find but even less likely to cause constipation are calcium lactate and calcium gluconate.

Vitamin D increases calcium and magnesium, as well as phosphorus absorption.