Biomaterial Database

Magnesium metabolism. 1990

R A Reinhart

Cardiology Department, Marshfield Clinic, WI 54449.

Magnesium is the second most abundant intracellular cation in the human body and is necessary as a cofactor in more than 300 enzymatic reactions. The generation and use of adenosine triphosphate is dependent on the presence of magnesium. The assessment of the magnesium status of a patient is problematic because there are no easily performed tests that reliably predict the intracellular concentration. There are recognized molecular and cellular actions of magnesium that explain clinically recognizable problems when a magnesium deficiency or excess is present. Guidelines for therapy of magnesium deficiency are given. Future directions in research are given.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008274	Magnesium	A metallic element that has the atomic symbol Mg, atomic number 12, and atomic weight 24.31. It is important for the activity of many enzymes, especially those involved in OXIDATIVE PHOSPHORYLATION.
D008275	Magnesium Deficiency	A nutritional condition produced by a deficiency of magnesium in the diet, characterized by anorexia, nausea, vomiting, lethargy, and weakness. Symptoms are paresthesias, muscle cramps, irritability, decreased attention span, and mental confusion, possibly requiring months to appear. Deficiency of body magnesium can exist even when serum values are normal. In addition, magnesium deficiency may be organ-selective, since certain tissues become deficient before others. (Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 12th ed, p1936)	Deficiency, Magnesium,Deficiencies, Magnesium,Magnesium Deficiencies
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man