In the East, where soybeans, vegetables and rice are the main dietary constituents, calcium intake is likely to be low, and fish plays a small but more important role than meat in the diet, the daily magnesium intake falls below 6 mg. per kg. Coullumbine and associates in their study of Ceylonese medical students on a control diet corresponding to their customary intake found that the daily magnesium intake ranged from 351 to 641 mg., or 5.7 to 11.5 mg. Indian men on their diets had a daily magnesium intake of from 6.1 to 10.6 mg. per kg. Analysis of published metabolic data indicates that the minimal daily requirement is not 220 to 300 mg. per day, as has been reiterated, or even 5 mg. per kg. 6 mg. per kg. per day, negative magnesium balance is likely to develop, particularly in men.
Women seem to retain more magnesium than men at low and marginal magnesium intakes.
At intakes above 10 mg. per kg. per day, strong positive magnesium balances develop, which probably reflect repletion of suboptimal tissue stores. High protein, calcium and vitamin D intakes, and alcohol function to impede retention or to increase the requirement of magnesium, particularly in those on low magnesium intakes. On magnesium intakes above 6 mg. per kg. The diet in the Orient apparently provides 6 to 10 mg. per kg. per day. The Occidental diet, however, provides an average of 250 to 300 mg. of magnesium daily, or less than 5 mg. per kg.