PLENARY SESSION II, SATURDAY
Abstract 39
LOW MAGNESIUM: A COMMON DENOMINATOR IN PATHOLOGIC PROCESSES
IN DIABETES MELLITUS, CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE AND ECLAMPSIA.
Seelig MS, Altura BT, Resnick LM, Handwerker SM, Altura
BM.
Community and Preventive Med, NY Med Coll, Valhalla, NY and
Nutrition, Sch of PH, Univ of N Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC; SUNY,
Bklyn, NY, Cornell Univ NY Hosp, NY, NY, Booth Mem Med Ctr,
Flushing, NY USA.
Microcirculatory disorders of diabetes mellitus (DM)—a
disease that when controlled was early identified with Mg
loss—have characteristics in common with those of
experimental Mg deficiency. Low blood Mg (in concert with high
Ca) increases platelet aggregability and blood
coagulation—which have been implicated in the pathogenesis
of DM, myocardial infarction (MI) and eclampsia. Low serum Mg,
though present at phases of the disorders in many cases, is an
unreliable index of Mg deficiency. Low ionized Mg in erythrocytes
(determined by utilizing nonmagnetic resonance) is present in
all, as well as in hypertension (HT) unrelated to DM or toxemias
of pregnancy. Using a new ion-selective electrode specific for
the Mg ion, we have found that low levels of the biologically
active ionized Mg is present in whole blood, as well as in plasma
and serum, of patients with HT, with or without DM, of patients
scheduled for open-heart surgery, and of preeclamptic patients.
Recent studies by others have shown that there is also
endothelial damage in DM, and in cardiac and preeclamptic
patients. Low Mg concentration influences endothelial integrity
and its production of prostacyclin (PGI)—the vasodilating,
antiaggregating prostanoid, mediating its activity, and increases
release of thromboxane (TXA)—the vasoconstricting platelet
aggregating prostanoid. Other endothelial derivatives
(endothelium-derived relaxing factor [EDRF], endothelin, and
fibronectin may also be affected by Mg. Low Mg favors a high
TXA/PGI ratio. It is suggested that imbalance of the prostanoids,
and that of the other endothelial derivatives may be linked to
the low Mg reported in these diseases. With the new Mg
ion-selective electrode, which uses a neutral carrier-based
membrane to provide readings in 60-90 seconds, it will be
possible to resolve the problem of laboratory diagnosis of Mg
deficiency. With growing recognition of the roles of the
endothelial factors, this should improve understanding of the
vulnerability of diabetics to HT and other vasospastic and
structural arterial diseases, and to cardiomyopathy and MI and
other thromboembolic conditions, as well as to preeclampsia.
J Am Coll Nutr 11:608 (1992)
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