Klin Farmakol Farm. 2017;31(3):16-18 | DOI: 10.36290/far.2017.017

Magnesium supplementation: pharmacological mechanisms, routes of administration, and pitfalls

Zdeněk Zadák, Alena Tichá, Radomír Hyšpler

Centrum pro výzkum a vývoj, Fakultní nemocnice Hradec Králové

Magnesium is a significant factor in a whole range of metabolic reactions, particularly in energy production, in mitochondrialfunction, being a part of enzyme cofactors and modulating the function of transport pumps and cell membrane channels.Magnesium deficiency is very common in the population of industrialized countries, ranging around 33% in all male and femaleage groups. The diagnosis of magnesium depletion in the body is difficult, given that this ion is present in biological systems inseveral fractions and, furthermore, because its maximum is contained intracellularly. The clinical symptomatology of magnesiumdepletion is very broad, ranging from minimal complaints to life-threatening arrhythmias. Proper magnesium supplementationfollows strict rules, particularly in terms of the route of administration (oral or parenteral).The occurrence of hypomagnesaemia, mainly in industrialized countries, remains a major phenomenon causing substantial healthproblems, and is underrated from both the clinical and preventive viewpoint.

Keywords: hypomagnesaemia, magnesium supplementation, clinical manifestations

Published: November 1, 2017  Show citation