I'm a big fan of magnesium. Good article, but I wish she'd specified what kind of magnesium she recommends. There are quite a few forms of it. Last night I ordered this, which is a combination of magnesium oxide, citrate, and aspartate. There are other forms of magnesium too.

As an interesting aside, years ago two psychics, completely unrelated to each other and in different parts of the country, told me I needed supplemental magnesium. And no, they weren't selling it. (Oooh, out of the corner of my eye I just saw Snidely roll his eyes.) ;-)

Thanks for thinking of me.

I would much rather you take medical advice from a psychic than a chiropractor. Both have about the same amount of medical knowledge, but you'd more likely be skeptical about what a psychic told you. So, that's safer.

The biggest risk of supplements (since the industry is neither monitored nor regulated) is that the chances are high of your taking too much of particular substance. Let your regular doc know what you're taking, that's a good double-check.

Another thing to keep in mind is that such products are often adulterated and contain undisclosed ingredients. Purity and quality standards can be relied upon with products that have bear the USP mark on the label, that's more than worth looking for.

Good news for me! Every time I take calcium supplements I soon develop a kidney stone, so I won't take them anymore and instead rely on my diet for calcium. My doctor told me to start taking magnesium and Vitamin D due to my deficiency.

While I agree that selective supplementation can do wonders, I also do agree that people can supplement too much and it's important to see how much you are getting cumulatively. I'm guilty of taking too many sometimes and received a mild lecture from my doctor the other day, so I've really tried to minimize what I take especially as I'm trying to get pregnant.

I believe that if you have a deficiency then you should take a supplement, otherwise a healthy diet will be enough.

I also like the analogy of use it or lose it. Pounding pavement(running or walking), or putting pressure on your bones will strengthen them. If your not working out then you should be. We weren't meant to be sedentary.

I take magnesium mostly for nerve health (no, not because the psychics said so--that was a long time ago--and yes, my doctor knows I take it), but it's nice to know it helps bones too.

I'm not a good candidate for walking for extended periods or running, but I'm on my way out to stack firewood.

Grrr! I read the article and every post, and nowhere have I discovered what the recommended amount of magnesium IS -- nor how much one needs to add to a healthy diet. (The MD mentioned that people used to get 500 mg from food.)

What's with the salted water she drinks? Aren't we already ingesting too much salt?

I never took calcium. I've had kidney stones, including a huge "staghorn" calculus that had to be surgically removed through my back.

My doctor has me on 250mg a day of magnesium, but I noticed my supplement daily dosage is 500mg. I just take 2 of the pills instead of 4.

In terms of salt, there's a big difference between someone eating a healthy diet with some sea salt and someone eating a processed diet with tons of added sodium.

I've been known to ingest a small amount of scepticism from time to time.

No other supplements.

And I consider myself healthy as a horse ...

... or would that be better described as "jack-ass"?

o j

I'm in your stable, o j.

My (ex) MIL ignored the doctors' advice about supplements for osteoporosis. 15 years ago I remember being on the phone with her and trying to explain why it was so important - I remember I was crying by the end of the conversation. As far as she was concerned, she was fine. She had smoked all her life and only quit when she got a suspect lung x-ray, and that worked out fine. So now she is 88 years old, has lost 8 inches in height, and has trouble breathing because her skeleton is folding over and crushing her lungs. She is alive because genetically she has a strong heart.

Years ago I ready an on-line book about osteoporosis written by a pharmacist in Maryland in which he discussed the need for multiple minerals, not just calcium. It was called "Strong Bones Forever." He recommended Jarrows Bone-Up as a supplement. It supplies the correct calcium-magnesium ratio, and it also includes K2, which is said to help the calcium get to the bones and some other minerals.

I'm a believer in supplements as needed.

I read recently that magnesium supplements don't absorb into the body that well and the best way to absorb magnesium was to take 20 minute baths in epsom salts. Don't know how true that is, but since I'm not a bath person, I guess I should look into supplements.

That's interesting, Georgysmom. We don't think about absorbing substances into our bodies through our skin but I know it happens. :)

Graywings, my mother is also very, very bent over with oseoperosis (and lost 8-10 inches,) and has been on calcium+D for decades. Have all those years of Fosomax made a difference? Hard to say.

OJ, I'd say you sound like you are as healthy as a horse and no, not a jack-ass. I'm so glad you are doing well!

I don't take multivitamins on a regular basis, but when I feel especially run-down tired, I start taking them for a few days and noticeably perk up. I am prone to low iron but who knows whether it's that or the B's.

I've never understood dosing. How can every adult, male or female, 100 lbs or 300 lbs., young or old...require the same dose of *anything*? I certainly can't eat like a linebacker; how could we both require them same dose of a medicine or supplement? Seems to me a lot of people are getting too little to actually make a difference -- or too much.

Some benefits are solely from taking something. I just saw one of those "Ask you doctor" ads where the rating of the medication was said to be a 'nine', while the placebo it was tested against was a 'seven'. Big whoop.

Are the amounts of chemo or radiation more closely tailored to individuals?

and it also includes K2, which is said to help the calcium get to the bones

Yes, and in the process it removes calcium from the arteries--a good thing because arterial calcium deposits contribute to heart disease. A friend from the KT told me about vitamin K2, and I'm grateful.

Good question about tailoring amounts of chemo and radiation, Chisue. I would hope a patient's weight, etc., is factored into the chemo dose, and I would hope the same thing for radiation therapy. But I don't know.

Fosomax can cause more harm than good. One should never be on it more than 5 years. A good friend of mine was on it for many yearsâ¦..No one told her she should go off it after 5 years including her doctor. She has had some repercussions from it including broken femur (spent months in a wheel chair) and is now going through all kinds of digestive problems. She's currently at Mayo clinic trying to resolve her many issues. So if anyone is on it, please speak to your doctor about it. It can actually do just the opposite of what it's suppose to do. Instead of strengthening the bones, it weakens them.

Yes on the K2 - I didn't realize how important it is till recently. My vitamin D drops contain K2 and it's supposed to help with absorption.

I think in terms of body weight, vitamins and supplements are usually dosed on average body size for adults, probably on the small side which is why it's often ages 12+ for adult doses. Obviously body sizes can range quite a bit but I think the safety standards are what is safe for an average person, and calculated where you would have to take many of them to have adverse effects. Doctors should be telling you how much of a supplement to take, and I assume they factor in individual bodies

Similar with OTC medication like Tylenol - it's dosed for all adults but larger people often have to take more to get the same effect.

I believe chemo/radiation is much more personalized given how it's literally poison. Too much or too little could be devastating. Supplements shouldn't post nearly a risk unless someone were taking a ton of them recklessly without doctor supervision.

sjerin - I agree that Fosomax is not the answer. The pharmacist who wrote the e-book said that years ago. And, no, I am in no way connected with the author or the book.

Here is a link that might be useful: strong bones forever