Correspondence

Magnesium: Its Proven and Potential Clinical Significance

Authors: Ryland P. Byrd, Jr. MD, Thomas M. Roy, MD

Abstract

To the Editor:


We read with interest the review article by Fox et al 1 concerning the clinical significance of magnesium as an essential intracellular cation. The authors present an excellent dialogue on the basic metabolism and physiologic effects of magnesium. The remainder of the article discusses magnesium deficiency, its links to various chronic illnesses, and the potential therapeutic uses for magnesium as a treatment modality for various chronic illnesses. While magnesium therapy has an acceptable safety record, the renewed interest in the possible clinical uses of magnesium has allowed investigators to observe that, although rare, clinically significant hypermagnesemia occurs and has potentially catastrophic results. The authors, however, fail to stress the importance of this phenomenon.

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References

1. Fox C, Ramsoomair D, Carter C. Magnesium: its proven and potential clinical significance. South Med J 2001; 94: 1195–1201.
 
2. Whang R. Clinical disorders of magnesium metabolism. Compr Ther 1997; 23: 168–173.
 
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