For many years osteoporosis has been a mystery disease,
striking most frequently in old age, often crippling and always
bringing pain. When it strikes, bones gradually lose density and
become more porous. They break easier, and are proportionately
harder to mend. Osteoporosis attacks 20 to 30 percent of
post-menopausal women, and between 5 to 10 percent of men more
than 50 years old.
For a long time nothing was known of its cause. It was
considered an unavoidable part of aging. Researchers now know
that the bones of the body are continually "shedding" cells and
being rebuilt. Osteoporosis results when the shedding or breaking
down and resorbing of the bone occurs faster than the building-up
process.
Here are several theories for-why this takes place. One is
that the building blocks of the bone-calcium, vitamin D, etc.-are
lacking. Sometimes, dietary supplements of these elements can
reestablish a normal balance so that the bone is replaced as
quickly as it is resorbed.
Studies have also shown that prolonged lack of exercise can
cause deterioration of the bone. In these cases, a simple
exercise program along with adequate dietary therapy can block
the disease's progress.
A more recent finding is that osteoporosis can be caused by
overproduction of adrenal steroids and large doses of
corticosteroids. At the same time, certain other hormones
(estrogens) appear to combat osteoporosis.
All of the facts have been jangling around in the files of
medical researchers for months and years- making no sense to many
of them, and leaving osteoporosis as much a mystery disease as
ever. Now Dr. Lewis B. Barnett, a retired orthopedic (bone) surgeon living
in Center, Colorado, whose work we have cited in previous
chapters, has advanced a theory that takes into account and
explains all these random facts. What's more, Barnett has
successfully tested his theory.
In a personal interview at his Colorado home, Meadow Ranch,
Dr. Barnett told us, "One of the most important aspects of the
disease osteoporosis has been almost totally overlooked. That
aspect is the role played by magnesium."
Health from Minerals in Water
Dr. Barnett first became interested in the role of magnesium
in bones and osteoporosis in 1950. At that time he began a series
of investigations in Hereford and Dallas, Texas. One purpose of the
study was to find out why people in later years frequently have
fractures of the cervical neck of the femur, and why in certain
areas these heal with great difficulty. These fractures rarely
occurred in the Hereford area but were common in Dallas.
When the fractures did occur in the Hereford area, at an
average age of 82.5, the healing time was eight weeks. In Dallas,
the fractures occurred at the average of age 63, and, if they
healed at all, took in the vicinity of 6.3 months.
Barnett analyzed the soil and water content of the two areas,
and concluded the major factor in bone health was the mineral
content of the water supply. Analysis of the water showed that
calcium alone could not be the element responsible for combating
osteoporosis. The Hereford water contained only four parts per
million of calcium while the Dallas water contained 23 p.p.m.
There were only slight differences in the fluorine, iodine, and
phosphorus content of the water. Barnett considered these
differences statistically insignificant.
The one really outstanding difference was in the magnesium
content of the two water supplies. The Dallas supply contained
eight p.p.m. of the mineral, while the Hereford water contained
16 p.p.m.
Although the medical literature then contained very little on
the virtues of magnesium, Barnett did locate some reports on the
subject. In the publication, Vital Facts About Foods, by Otto Carque (1933) is the statement. "Bones average about 1 per cent
phosphate of magnesium and. teeth about 1% per cent phosphate of
magnesium. Elephant tusks contain 2 per cent of phosphate of
magnesium and billiard balls made from these are almost
indestructible. The teeth of carnivorous animals contain nearly 5
per cent phosphate of magnesium and thus they are able to crush
and grind the bones of their prey without difficulty."
Barnett decided to analyze the bone content of people in
Dallas and Hereford. He chose for his study 500 women, average
age 55. All were his patients, undergoing lumbar and cervical
vertebrae surgery. Except for slipped disks and related problems,
they considered themselves healthy individuals.
More Magnesium, Stronger Bone
The findings bore out the results of the previous studies: the
major difference was in the magnesium content of the bone. In the
Dallas area where bone weakness was evident because of the high
number of cases of osteoporosis, the magnesium content of bone
was .05 percent; in Hereford, 1.76 percent.
Still Barnett was not satisfied. He decided on another study.
He examined the bone content of healthy people and compared it
with the content of people suffering from severe osteoporosis.
Again he found there was little difference among the calcium,
phosphorus, and fluoride content of the bones of the individuals.
The magnesium content of the healthy people, however, was 1.26
percent. That of the osteoporosis victims was .62 percent.
'The mechanism whereby magnesium functions to strengthen bone
and combat osteoporosis is, like many functions of the body,
quite complex," Dr. Barnett explained. "Our studies, however,
have convinced us that the mineral is important-perhaps the most
important single element-in bone health."
The theory behind it is that
magnesium is needed, by the pituitary gland.
This gland regulates all the other glands of the body, and to do
this regulating it uses magnesium. This mineral acts as a
sedative, counteracting the stimulant effect of the adrenal
glands. These glands must be restrained in their production, or
else their secretions will speed up the breaking down and
resorption of bone tissue.
Another function of magnesium is to act as an enzyme or
catalyst. In effect, it acts as the glue that binds calcium and
fluorine to build bone. Thus, even though calcium and fluorine
may be abundant in the diet, they cannot be used and are flushed
out of the system unless the binding element, magnesium, is also
present.
Deficiency Widespread
"A test we conducted on 5,000 people found about 60 percent of
them deficient in magnesium," Barnett told us.
"Perhaps it wouldn't be a bad idea, since they are adding
things to the water supply anyway, if they considered magnesium."
At any rate, Barnett does not consider osteoporosis a necessary
accompaniment of old age. A diet high in magnesium, calcium,
phosphorus, and fluorine is definitely an important preventive
measure.
There is no official recommendation on how much magnesium one
should get in his daily diet. Not only is magnesium the mystery
mineral, but it is also, to a large degree, the ignored one.
However, Dr. Barnett advocates that 600 mg. a day will provide a
safety margin and will not be wasted.
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Chapter 14. Alcoholism
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January 3, 2001
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