Ultrafiltration Studies on Serum Magnesium

Abstract

OF the four major cations in human extracellular fluid, magnesium has been investigated least. This neglect may be attributed in part to difficulties in methodology, since serum contains only 1 or 2 milliequiv. of magnesium per liter. The magnesium ion, however, is a large component of intracellular fluid and bone. Numerous animal studies have demonstrated its dietary importance in intermediary metabolism.^{1 2 3 4} Low concentrations of serum magnesium have been reported in patients with rickets caused by vitamin D deficiency,⁵ diabetic ketosis during insulin therapy,⁶ and dietary phosphate load^{7 , 8} and in a child with chronic tremor and a bony lesion thought to . . .