Disorders of magnesium metabolism

Abstract

Magnesium plays an important role in many physiological functions and disorders of magnesium homeostasis are common in hospital populations. As magnesium is mainly an intracellular ion, assessment of magnesium status is difficult. Of all the methods used for assessing magnesium status the magnesium tolerance test is currently the best one. Hypomagnesaemia, which is much more frequent than hypermagnesaemia, is commonly caused by increased gastrointestinal or renal loss of magnesium. Hypomagnesaemia will lead to hypocalcaemia and neuromuscular manifestations such as tetany, muscle weakness and cardiovascular effects such as arrhythmias. If hypomagensaemia is detected it should be treated to prevent development of complications.