The prerequisite for bioactive glasses to bond to living bone is the formation of biologically active apatites on their surface in the body. Reactions and bioactivity mechanisms between bioactive glasses and bone depend on the glass composition. Our results demonstrate this property of bioactivity for the studied bioactive glass. The bioactive glass doped with MgO leads to the formation of a Ca-P-Mg rich layer on top of a pure Si layer. Ca, P and Mg elements diffuse through the Si rich layer which seems to act as a protective diffusion barrier leading to t(1/2) leaching kinetics. This paper demonstrates for the first time, the presence of Mg in the Ca-P rich layer at the interface between the bioactive glass and bone. However, magnesium influences the formation and the evolution of the apatite layer. Magnesium has synergistic effects on the crystallinity and solubility of apatites. These phenomena can promote a greater dissolution of the apatite precipitates in the studied bioactive glass. Determination of supersaturations values permits to better understand growth and dissolution of precipitates forming the apatite-Mg layer. Measurements of supersaturations for Ca, P and Mg were consistent before 3 months and after 6 months. Before 3 months, the apatite-Mg layer grows and after 3 months this layer is in dissolution. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.