A new study has found that the key to maintaining the optimum levels of vitamin D lies in consuming magnesium. The consumption of magnesium can raise the vitamin D level in people with deficient levels and lower the vitamin D level in people with high levels of the vitamin.
Published in the
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the findings suggest that magnesium could play an important role in preventing conditions related to vitamin D levels.
The easiest way to increase one’s magnesium intake is through dietary changes. Magnesium is found in high levels in dark leafy greens, beans, whole grains, dark chocolate, fatty fish such as salmon, nuts, and avocados
The researchers were intrigued by magnesium’s role because people synthesise vitamin D differently. In layman terms, the vitamin D levels in some individual would not rise despite the high-dosage supplements they consumed.
"Magnesium deficiency shuts down the vitamin D synthesis and metabolism pathway," said the study's lead author Qi Dai from Vanderbilt
University Medical Center in the US.
"A lot of people have received recommendations from their health care providers to take vitamin D supplements to increase their levels based upon their blood tests. However, magnesium deficiency is an under-recognised issue," said Martha Shrubsole from
Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
