Research appearing in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2014 Sep; 100(3):974-81) looked at 139 healthy elderly (average age 71.5 years) attending a fitness class. They were randomly divided into two groups and given either a placebo or 300 mg/day of magnesium for 12 weeks. Subjects were evaluated using The Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) and by measuring changes in lower limb and handgrip strength.

After 12 weeks, the magnesium-treated group had significantly higher SPPB scores, as well as higher chair stand times and 4m walking speeds, as compared to the control group. The findings were more pronounced when the group receiving the magnesium was compared to those in the control group consuming less than the RDA of magnesium. To quote the authors of the study, “12 week daily magnesium oxide supplementation seems to improve physical performance in healthy elderly women; suggesting its role in preventing or delaying age-related decline in physical performance.”

Findings were more evident in participants with a magnesium dietary intake lower than the Recommended Dietary Allowance. The authors conclude that “12 week daily magnesium oxide supplementation seems to improve physical performance in healthy elderly women; suggesting its role in preventing or delaying age-related decline in physical performance.”