Biomarkers

Target: Magnesium

Magnesium salts are essential in nutrition, being required for the activity of many enzymes, especially those concerned with oxidative phosphorylation. Physiologically, it exists as an ion in the body. It is a component of both intra- and extracellular fluids and is excreted in the urine and feces. Deficiency causes irritability of the nervous system with tetany, vasodilatation, convulsions, tremors, depression, and psychotic behaviour. Magnesium ion in large amounts is an ionic laxative, and magnesium sulfate (Epsom salts) is sometimes used for this purpose. So-called "milk of magnesia" is a water suspension of one of the few insoluble magnesium compounds, magnesium hydroxide; the undissolved particles give rise to its appearance and name. Milk of magnesia is a mild base, and is commonly used as an antacid. Moreover, magnesium is found to be associated with primary hypomagnesemia, which is an inborn error of metabolism. Hypomagnesemia is an electrolyte disturbance caused when there is a low level of serum magnesium (less than 1.46 mg/dL) in the blood. Hypomagnesemia can be attributed to chronic disease, alcohol use disorder, gastrointestinal losses, renal losses, and other conditions.Magnesium deficiencies (hypomagnesemia) cause tetany, vasodilatation, convulsions, tremors, depression, and psychotic behaviour. Specifically, in adults (>18 years old) with primary hypomagnesemia, magnesium in the blood is decreased at a concentration of 123.431 μM (PMID: 10337938) compared to normal adults at a concentration of 833.0 +/- 208.0 μM (PMID: 16895893). A similar trend is observed in children (1-13 years old) with primary hypomagnesemia where magnesium in the blood is significantly reduced at a concentration of 240 +/- 110 μM (PMID: 9579153) compared to normal children at a concentration of 620-1080 μM (PMID: 9579153).Magnesium is a metal and the eleventh most abundant element by mass in the human body. It is essential to all cells and some 300 enzymes, especially those concerned with oxidative phosphorylation. Physiologically, magnesium exists as an ion in the body. It is a component of both intra- and extracellular fluids and is excreted in the urine and feces. Magnesium ions in large amounts can serve as a laxative, and magnesium sulfate (Epsom salts) is sometimes used for this purpose. So-called "milk of magnesia" is a water suspension of one of the few insoluble magnesium compounds, magnesium hydroxide; the undissolved particles give rise to its appearance and name. Milk of magnesia is a mild base, and is commonly used as an antacid. Magnesium is also associated with Bartter Syndrome, Type 3 where the level of magnesium in the blood in children (1-13 years old) is significantly elevated at a concentration of 910 (760-1000) μM (PMID: 28381550) compared to normal children 620-1080 μM (PMID: 9579153). Magnesium is also associated with Seizures, sensorineural deafness, ataxia, mental retardation, and electrolyte imbalance (SESAMES) where it is significantly elevated in the blood of adults (>18 years old) at a concentration of 540-620 μM (PMID: 19289823) compared to normal adults at a concentration of 800-1200 μM (PMID: 19289823).