To comprehensively evaluate magnesium status, both laboratory tests and a clinical assessment might be required.
Some experts but not others consider the tolerance test (in which urinary magnesium is measured after parenteral infusion of a dose of magnesium) to be the best method to assess magnesium status in adults. No single method is considered satisfactory. Other methods for assessing magnesium status include measuring magnesium concentrations in erythrocytes, saliva, and urine measuring ionized magnesium concentrations in blood, plasma, or serum and conducting a magnesium-loading (or "tolerance") test. The most commonly used and readily available method for assessing magnesium status is measurement of serum magnesium concentration, even though serum levels have little correlation with total body magnesium levels or concentrations in specific tissues. Īssessing magnesium status is difficult because most magnesium is inside cells or in bone. Urinary excretion is reduced when magnesium status is low. Magnesium homeostasis is largely controlled by the kidney, which typically excretes about 120 mg magnesium into the urine each day. Hypomagnesemia is defined as a serum magnesium level less than 0.75 mmol/L. Normal serum magnesium concentrations range between 0.75 and 0.95 millimoles (mmol)/L. Less than 1% of total magnesium is in blood serum, and these levels are kept under tight control.
Īn adult body contains approximately 25 g magnesium, with 50% to 60% present in the bones and most of the rest in soft tissues. Magnesium also plays a role in the active transport of calcium and potassium ions across cell membranes, a process that is important to nerve impulse conduction, muscle contraction, and normal heart rhythm. It contributes to the structural development of bone and is required for the synthesis of DNA, RNA, and the antioxidant glutathione. Magnesium is required for energy production, oxidative phosphorylation, and glycolysis.
Magnesium is a cofactor in more than 300 enzyme systems that regulate diverse biochemical reactions in the body, including protein synthesis, muscle and nerve function, blood glucose control, and blood pressure regulation. Magnesium, an abundant mineral in the body, is naturally present in many foods, added to other food products, available as a dietary supplement, and present in some medicines (such as antacids and laxatives). For a reader-friendly overview of Magnesium, see our consumer fact sheet on Magnesium. doi:10.1016/j.cj.2015.11.003.This is a fact sheet intended for health professionals. Magnesium deficiency in plants: an urgent problem, The Crop Journal, 2016 4(2): 83-91. Wanli G, Hussain N, Zongsuo L, Dongfeng Y. Timeline (bioavailability of magnesium compounds in hours: Which magnesium compound works best? Biol Trace Elem Res. Magnesium and Blood Pressure: A Physiology-Based Approach. Schutten JC, Joosten MM, de Borst MH, Bakker SJL. Reid S, Chalder T, Cleare A, Hotopf M, Wessely S. Alternative medical interventions used in the treatment and management of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia. Porter NS, Jason LA, Boulton A, Bothne N, Coleman B. A bibliographical survey of bruxism with special emphasis on non-traditional treatment modalities. Magnesium Health Fact Sheet for Health Professionals. Primary restless legs syndrome in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus : efficacy of magnesium & co enzyme q10 therapy. In silico analysis of exercise intolerance in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome. The role of diet in the treatment of fibromyalgia. Decreased muscle concentrations of ATP and PCR in the quadriceps muscle of fibromyalgia patients-a 31P-MRS study. Gerdle B, Forsgren MF, Bengtsson A, et al. Magnesium and malic acid supplement for fibromyalgia. Circulating magnesium levels and incidence of coronary heart diseases, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes mellitus: a meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies. Magnesium status and magnesium therapy in cardiac surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis focusing on arrhythmia prevention. Effects of transdermal magnesium chloride on quality of life for patients with fibromyalgia: a feasibility study. Engen DJ, McAllister SJ, Whipple MO, et al.