Magnesium

Abstract

Magnesium plays a critical role in many cell function by stimulation of the Mg dependent enzymes. Hypomagnesaemia may occur because of decreased intake or absorption or increased loss of this element through renal dysfunction. Features of magnesium deficiency consists of muscular weakness and incoordination, vertigo, coarse and irregular tremor, muscular twitchings, ataxia and rarely convulsions. In contrast to the measurement of total serum magnesium and ultrafiltrable Mg there is no method available to measure ionized magnesium. It is unknown whether the concentration of magnesium in erythrocytes or mononuclear cells reflects the magnesium of muscle or bone tissue. A new approach is the technique of NMR measurements in intact cells. It is possible to measure intracellular ionized Mg by 31-P-NMR which allows direct information on the concentration of the ATP Mg complex in intact cells.