Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Intra-erythrocyte magnesium levels and their clinical implications in geriatric outpatients

  • Intra-Erythrocyte Magnesium Levels and their Clinical Implications
  • Published:
The journal of nutrition, health & aging

Abstract

Objectives

Magnesium deficiency has been implicated as a factor in numerous chronic diseases and previous studies suggest a greater prevalence of occult magnesium deficiency among older adults. Serum is the choice for the assessment of most analyses used in clinical medicine, although serum magnesium concentrations have been shown to be poor predictors of intracellular magnesium concentration. The aim of this study was to compare intracellular and extracellular magnesium concentrations in geriatric outpatients. Moreover, we examined whether a significant correlation between magnesium parameters and clinical outcome existed.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

Geriatric medicine outpatient clinic of a university hospital.

Participants

A total of 246 patients with a mean age of 71.9±5.7 years were involved.

Measurements

Intra-erythrocyte magnesium levels were analyzed with atomic absorption spectrophotometry.

Results

Serum magnesium levels were within normal range in all patients, whereas intra-erythrocyte magnesium measurements were low in 57% of the patients. Increase in serum levels were together with just only a slightly increase in intra-erythrocyte measurements and the relationship was very weak. Intra-erythrocyte Mg levels were not significantly correlated with many laboratory or clinical parameters.

Conclusion

Our results confirm that intra-erythrocyte Mg does not correlate with serum levels and clinical parameters in geriatric outpatients, but further studies are needed to define the correlation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Elin RJ. Magnesium: the fifth but forgotten electrolyte. Am J Clin Pathol 1994;102:616–622.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Vaquero MP. Magnesium and trace elements in the elderly: intake, status and recommendations. J Nutr Health Aging 2002;6:147–153.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Peacock J M, Folsom A R, Arnett D K, Eckfeldt J H, Szklo M. Relationship of serum and dietary magnesium to incident hypertension: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study. Ann Epidemiol 1999;9:159–165.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Gorelik O, Efrati S, Berman S, Sarafian DA, Alon I, Shteinshaider M, Cohen N. Effect of various clinical variables on total intracellular Magnesium in hospitalized normomagnesemic diabetic patients before discharge. Biol Trace elem Res 2007;120:102–109.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Elin RJ. Assessement of Magnesium status. Clin Chem 1987;33:1965–1970.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Huijgen HJ, Soesan M, Sanders R, Mairuhu WM, Kesecioglu J, Sanders GT. Magnesium levels in critically ill patients. What should we measure? Am J Clin Pathol. 2000;114:688–695.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Walther LE, Winnefeld K, Sölch O. Determination of iron, copper, zinc, magnesium and selenium in plasma and erythrocytes in neurosurgical patients. J Trace Elements Med Biol 2000;14:92–95.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Folstein M F, Folstein J E, McHugh P R. “Mini Mental State”. A practical method for grading the cognitive state of patients for the clinicians. J Psychiatr Res 1975;12:189–198.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Jacelon C S. The Barthel Index and other indices of functional ability. Rehabil Nurs 1986;11:9–11.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Lawton M P, Brody E M. Assessment of older people: self-maintaining and instrumental activities of daily living. Gerontologist 1969;9:176–186.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Cohendy R, Rubenstein L Z, Eledjam J J. Te Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form for preoperative nutritional evaluation of elderly patients. Aging 2001;13:132–138.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Malpuech-Brugère C, Nowacki W, Rock E, Gueux E, Mazur A, Rayssiguier Y. Enhanced tumor necrosis factor-alpha production following endotoxin challenge in rats is an early event during magnesium deficiency. Biochim Biophys Acta. 1999;1453:35–40.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Ames B N, Atamna H, Killilea D W. Mineral and vitamin deficiencies can accelerate the mitochondrial decay of aging. Mol Aspects Med 2005;26(4–5):363–378.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Davidovic M, Trailov D, Milosevic D, Radosavljevic B, Milanovic P, Djurica S, Loncar-Stevanovic H, Stevic R. Magnesium, aging and the elderly patient. Scientific World Journal 2004;4:544–550.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Ford ES, Mokdad AH. Dietary magnesium intake in a national sample of US adults. J Nutr. 2003;133:2879–2882.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Fiaccadori E, Del Canale S, Coffrini E, Melej R, Vitali P, Guariglia A, Borghetti A. Muscle and serum magnesium in pulmonary intensive care unit patients. Crit Care Med. 1988;16:751–760.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Chernow B, Bamberger S, Stoiko M, Vadnais M, Mills S, Hoellerich V, Warshaw AL. Hypomagnesemia in patients in postoperative intensive care. Chest. 1989;95:391–397.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Schimatschek H F, Rempis R. Prevalence of hypomagnesemia in an unselected German population of 16,000 individuals. Magnes Res 2001;14:283–290.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Stalnikowicz R. The significance of routine serum magnesium determination in the ED. Am J Emerg Med 2003;21:444–447.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Elin RJ. Magnesium metabolism in health and disease. Dis Mon 1988;34:164–218.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Feillet-Coudray C, Coudray C, Wolf FI, Henrotte JG, Rayssiguier Y, Mazur A. Magnesium metabolism in mice selected for high and low erythrocyte magnesium levels. Metabolism 2004;53:660–665.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Sacks G S, Brown R O, Dickerson R N, Bhattacharya S, Lee P D, Mowatt-Larssen C, Ilardi G, Kudsk K A. Mononuclear blood cell magnesium content and serum magnesium concentration in critically ill hypomagnesemic patients after replacement therapy. Nutrition 1997;13:303–308.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Liao F, Folsom A R, Brancati F L. Is low magnesium concentration a risk factor for coronary heart disease? The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study. Am Heart J 1998;136:480–490.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Lopez-Ridaura R, Willett W C, Rimm E B, Liu S, Stampfer M J, Manson J E, Hu F B. Magnesium intake and risk of type 2 diabetes in men and women. Diabetes Care 2004;27:134–140.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Alon I, Gorelik O, Berman S, Almoznino-Sarafian D, Shteinshnaider M, Weissgarten J, Modai D, Cohen N. Intracellular magnesium in elderly patients with heart failure: effects of diabetes and renal dysfunction. J Trace Elem Med Biol 2006;20:221–226.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Sontia B, Touyz R M. Role of magnesium in hypertension. Arch Biochem Biophys. 2007;458:33–39.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Fox C H, Mahoney M C, Ramsoomair D, Carter C A. Magnesium deficiency in African-Americans: does it contribute to increased cardiovascular risk factors? J Natl Med Assoc 2003;95(4):257–262.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Malon A, Brockman C, Fijalkowska-Morawska J, Rob P, Maj-Zurawska M. Ionized magnesium in erythrocytes-the best magnesium parameter to observe hypo or hypermagnesemia. Clin Chemica Acta 2004;349:67–73.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey

    Zekeriya Ulger, S. Ariogul, M. Cankurtaran, M. Halil & B. B. Yavuz

  2. Faculty of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey

    B. Orhan & O. Akyol

  3. Faculty of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pathophysiology, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey

    G. O. Kavas & P. Aribal

  4. Faculty of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey

    S. Canlar, D. S. Dede & N. Ozkayar

  5. Department of Internal Medicine, Hacettepe University Hospital, 06100, Sihhiye-Ankara, Turkey

    Zekeriya Ulger

Authors
  1. Zekeriya Ulger
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. Ariogul
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. Cankurtaran
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. M. Halil
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. B. B. Yavuz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. B. Orhan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. G. O. Kavas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. P. Aribal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. S. Canlar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. D. S. Dede
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. N. Ozkayar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  12. O. Akyol
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Zekeriya Ulger.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ulger, Z., Ariogul, S., Cankurtaran, M. et al. Intra-erythrocyte magnesium levels and their clinical implications in geriatric outpatients. J Nutr Health Aging 14, 810–814 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-010-0121-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-010-0121-y

Key words

Search

Navigation