In the context of bone health, what happens when there is a high Calcium to Magnesium ratio in the diet?

Answer

High calcium intake heightens the body’s functional need for magnesium, as calcium cannot be effectively utilized or absorbed without sufficient magnesium present.

Magnesium and calcium work synergistically, meaning they must be present in appropriate balance for either to function optimally. When an individual consumes an excessive amount of calcium, whether through dairy or supplements, the body's requirement for magnesium increases dramatically because magnesium is mandatory for calcium utilization and proper absorption pathways. This imbalance pulls magnesium from vital stores to support the utilization of the competing mineral, increasing functional depletion even if overall magnesium intake is marginally adequate. Optimal support requires maintaining a balance closer to 2:1 (calcium to magnesium), whereas high intake situations can lead to ratios reaching 4:1.

In the context of bone health, what happens when there is a high Calcium to Magnesium ratio in the diet?
healthmineralnutritionmagnesiumdepletion