Magnesium deficiency: effect on bone mineral density in the mouse appendicular skeleton

Several previous epidemiologic studies have demonstrated a positive correlation between dietary Mg intake and bone density and/or the rate of bone loss during low Mg intake in humans [1‐5]. Magnesium depletion has also been strongly indicated as a risk factor for osteoporosis associated with aging and postmenopausal status [6‐8]. Since osteoporosis also occurs with greater frequency in certain populations in which Mg depletion is also present, such as diabetes mellitus, alcoholism, and malabsorption syndromes [9], further investigations of animal models in which dietary Mg intake is decreased are valuable because they can help us to better understand the relationship of Mg inadequacy and bone health.

Previous work by our group has shown that in the Mg-depleted mouse hypomagnesemia develops and skeletal Mg content falls significantly [10]. Bone histomorphometry analysis showed that trabecular bone of Mg-depleted mice also shows increased numbers of osteoclasts and reduced numbers of osteoblasts. The present study was conducted in order to compare bone mineral density in the trabecular and cortical bone of the mouse femur using peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT). This study demonstrates the profound effect of Mg depletion on the trabecular compartment of bone, which, with its greater surface area and turnover, was more quickly responsive to Mg depletion than cortical bone in the appendicular skeleton of the mouse.

The study presented here was approved by the IACUC of Orthopaedic Hospital. Dietary Mg deficiency was induced for up to 6 weeks in BALB/c female mice (Simonsen Laboratories, Gilroy, CA) aged 28 days at start of the study. Mice were acclimated to the vivarium for one week, and fed tap water and a control or Mg deficient diet as described below ad libitum. Animals were housed individually in 7-inch-high plastic cages with 110 inch² floor area with Sani-chips bedding. The environment was maintained at 20–25°C, 50% humidity, with 10–15 room air exchanges per hour and a 12:12-hour light: dark cycle. The experimental diets were instituted after a 1-week acclimation period. Mice were fed either a normal control Mg diet (0.06% as percent of total diet) or a Mg-deficient diet (0.002% Mg) (both diets obtained from Harlan Teklad, Madison, WI). Dietary calcium intake was as recommended for mice at 0.05%. The complete composition of the diet has been previously published [11]. Pair feeding was performed in order to keep weight gain as close as possible in the Mg-deficient and control groups, as bone mass is closely correlated with body mass. Control mice were pair-fed with the Mg-deficient mice based on weight of food consumed by the Mg-deficient animals accordingly every day. During the study period, distilled deionized water containing <0.003 mg Mg/dl was used for hydration.

Animals were weighed at start of study and at study terminations. At baseline, and 2, 4 and 6 weeks of study, animals were euthanized, the right femur removed and the left femur harvested for bone mineral density analysis. Peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) was performed on the excised left femur using a Stratec XCT-RM and associated software (Stratec Medizintechnik Gmbh, Pforzheim, Germany. Software version 5.40). The scan was performed at two sites, 12 and 50% from the distal end of the femur. The positions were verified using scout views and one 0.5-mm slice perpendicular to the long axis of the femur shaft was acquired. The scans were analyzed using a threshold for delineation of the external boundary recommended by the software. The bone mineral density, area and mineral content at each site were reported. Quality control of the machine was monitored by scanning a manufacturer-provided phantom on each day of scan. The coefficient of variations for bone mineral content, area and density were 2.2, 3.5 and 2.8%, respectively.

Statistical analysis employed SAS^® version 8.2 software and used standard methods of analysis including paired and unpaired t-tests and two-way ANOVA with interaction. Data are expressed as means ± S.D.

Pair feeding was used to attempt to keep weight changes as close as possible in control and Mg-deficient animals. As shown in Table 1, there was no difference in the initial vs final mean weights for control animals at 2, 4 or 6 week study timepoints. In the Mg-deficient animals, there was no difference between initial and final mean weights at 2 weeks or at 4 weeks. In the 6 week group, however, the final weight was significantly less than the mean initial weight of that group (p = 0.002). When mean initial weights were analyzed, the controls and Mg-deficient animals showed no differences in the 4 or 6 week groups. In the 2 week group, however, controls were significantly heavier (p = 0.01). When mean final weights were analyzed, controls and Mg-deficient animals showed no differences in the 2 and 4 week groups; in the 6 week group, controls were significantly heavier than Mg-deficient animals (p < 0.001). It is unlikely that these body weight differences influenced bone mineral density since changes seen in trabecular bone mineral content between controls and Mg-deficient animals were already present in the 4 week group, a time at which there was no difference in mean weights of these groups.

Femurs from mice aged 28 days at start of this study were assessed with pQCT to determine volumetric bone mineral density (BMD, mg/cm³) of the midshaft and total bone mineral content of the distal femoral metaphyseal (BMC, mg/mm) of control and Mg-deficient animals at baseline (time 0, start of study) and 2, 4 and 6 weeks of study. As shown in Figure 1, BMC was significantly decreased in the metaphysis of Mg-deficient mice. Statistical analysis using ANOVA showed that controls increased significantly over time (with all of the change from baseline to week 2) (p = 0.005). BMC of femurs from Mg-deficient mice did not change significantly over time, and at weeks 4 and 6 were significantly decreased compared to controls at the same time point (p < 0.001). Bone mineral density (mg/cm³) in the metaphysis was similar in controls and Mg-deficient mice at 2 weeks [171.4 ± 25.5 (8) for controls vs 162.1 ± 47.0 (7) for Mg-deficient animals (means ± S.D. (n))]. At 6 weeks, however, the mean bone mineral density in Mg-deficient animals was significantly lower than controls (146.8 ± 37.9 (7) vs control level of 153.3 ± 28 (10), p = 0.02).

In contrast to the metaphyseal compartment, no significant difference could be detected in BMD between controls and Mg-deficient mice at the midshaft (Figure 2). At this site ANOVA analysis showed that there was not a significant change over time in either control (p = 0.17) or Mg-deficient mice (p = 0.07). There was no significant difference between controls or Mg-deficient BMD at 2, 4 or 6 weeks (= 0.53, 0.64 and 0.81, respectively). Since there is little trabecular bone in the femoral midshaft, trabecular bone mineral content was not evaluated at this site.

Mean cortical thickness was also measured at the midshaft site. Control means increased from 0.316 ± 0.01 (8) (mean ± S.D. (n)) at baseline to 0.323 ± 0.008 (10) but showed no significant difference over 0 – 6 weeks. Mean cortical thickness similarly did not change significantly in the low Mg mice (0.311 ± 0.01 (8) at baseline; 0.321 ± 0.009 (7) at 6 weeks).

Although previous studies of the magnesium-deficient mouse had reported that this animal model developed hypocalcemia (similar to humans), more recent work from our laboratory showed that the Mg deficient mouse has significantly elevated serum calcium levels at 4 and 6 weeks of study [10]. Our previous work has also shown that Mg depletion has a severe effect on the mouse skeleton resulting in impaired bone growth, decreased osteoblast numbers, increased osteoclast numbers and stimulation of cytokine activity in bone. In this model of dietary Mg deficiency, ashing studies have shown that the percent ash Mg content decreases significantly by 3 weeks of depletion and further declines by 6 weeks [10]. (Ash calcium and phosphorus contents, however, are not altered).

In the present study, we have further examined bone in the Mg-deficient murine model using peripheral quantitative computed tomography. Recent studies by Beamer et al have demonstrated that the pQCT technology can be used with precision on the small skeletal bones of the mouse [12]. These authors have also discussed the fact that pQCT data compare well with other methods of assessing bone density such as histomorphometry and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry.

After 4 and 6 weeks of Mg deficiency, BMC of the mouse femur in a site primarily trabecular in nature was significantly lower than that of control animals at these time points. Femoral BMD, however, and femoral cortical midshaft thickness, showed no difference compared to relevant control means. These data demonstrate the profound effect of Mg depletion on the trabecular compartment of bone, which, with its greater surface area and turnover, was more responsive to Mg depletion than cortical bone in the appendicular skeleton of the mouse. The general nature of enhanced responsiveness of trabecular bone has been previously noted since trabecular bone not only has greater surface area and greater bone turnover than cortical bone, but also the changes of bone as seen in diseases such as osteoporosis have a greater effect in that compartment [13]. It is of interest to note that a similar pattern of change – decreased BMC but unchanged midshaft BMD – was seen in the tibia of mice lacking the transforming growth factor-β1 gene studied by Geiser et al [14].

Studies with several animals models subjected to dietary Mg deficiency show that Mg deficiency is a risk factor for osteoporosis. A positive correlation between dietary Mg intake and bone density and/or increased rates of bone loss has been published in several epidemiologic studies [3, 5, 15‐18]. Our understanding of the mechanisms of action at the bone tissue, cell and hormonal level, however, is still incomplete and much remains to be learned about the role of dietary Mg intake in the maintenance of bone mass.

This study demonstrates the profound effect of Mg depletion on the trabecular compartment of bone, which, with its greater surface area and turnover, was more responsive to Mg depletion than cortical bone in the appendicular skeleton of the mouse.