I heard Dr. Nelson in a radio interview with Joan Hamburg on WOR in New York and subsequently visited your web site. I was surprised to find that no mention of magnesium was made in connection with calcium. The formula I personally use combines these in a 2:1 ratio. In addition, I take 3 mg of boron daily, which I understand helps in the absorption of calcium. I would be grateful to see a response in whatever form is convenient.

We are still in the process of adding new material to our web site www.strongwomen.com so please keep visiting the site to see the updates. Information on magnesium is included in Dr Nelson's new book, Strong Women, Strong Bones. It is an important nutrient for bone. Research has shown that women who have diets rich in magnesium (they consume abundant fruits and vegetables) have denser bones. The recommended intake for magnesium is: 320 mg/day for women (the recommended amount of calcium for women is: 1000 mg and 1200 mg, respectively for pre and post-menopausal women). Research on magnesium supplementation in women and improving bone density has not been very successful. While magnesium supplementation is safe, it is premature to recommend that women supplement with the nutrient to improve bone density. The same is true for boron, which is needed in extremely small amounts for bone. Boron is present in many foods and until more is known about its side effects, supplementation is not recommended.