Study Shows Vitamin D Absorption is Optimized with Magnesium

In a study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, lead author Qi Dai, MD, PhD, Ingram, Professor of Cancer Research, analyzes the relationship between vitamin D and magnesium levels. While previous studies have linked low magnesium with low vitamin D levels, the aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that magnesium supplementation affects vitamin D metabolism dependent on baseline 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentration.

The study included 180 participants aged 40-85 years old who were part of a bigger study with the Personalized Prevention of Colorectal Cancer Trial (PPCCT) at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Doses for both magnesium and the placebo were customized based on baseline dietary intakes in this double-blind randomized, controlled trial. 

Study findings concluded that optimal magnesium status may be important for optimizing vitamin D status. Dai explains, "Magnesium deficiency shuts down the vitamin D synthesis and metabolism pathway."  

Up to 80 percent of people are said to be deficient in magnesium, and vitamin D insufficiency has been determined to be a major health problem in the US. Vitamin D is often prescribed for those with low serum levels, yet often without successful results. Could magnesium be the missing link?

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