Micke O1, Vormann J2, Kraus A3, Kisters K4
Purpose: Low magnesium intake or low serum levels are risk factors for e.g., type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Despite its scientifically recognized importance, too little attention is paid to magnesium in practice. This may be due to the fact that there is no uniform and evidence-based reference range for serum magnesium. Serum magnesium is also of limited informative value, as it is maintained stable for a long time by releasing magnesium from body pools. A low serum magnesium is a definite sign of magnesium deficiency; however, values within the reference range do not rule out deficiencies.
Materials and methods: A literature search of “magnesium” in connection with the search terms “reference interval”, “reference range”, “diagnostics”, “status”, “serum”, “plasma”, “hypomagnesemia”, “deficiency” was carried out in the PubMed database. Furthermore, quotations in the publications found were used
Results: The serum magnesium is the only available parameter for the magnesium status in routine analysis but has only limited informative value. It should therefore be noted in the laboratory results that values within the reference range do not exclude the presence of a magnesium deficiency. To satisfy the high scientific importance of a sufficient supply of magnesium in clinical practice, serum magnesium should be established in routine analysis. In this regard, a uniform and evidence-based reference range is required. The determination of serum magnesium is simple and cost-effective.
Conclusion: According to current data, an increase in the lower limit value for serum magnesium to 0.85 mmol/L (2.1 mg/dL) is required from a health point of view. The best way to diagnose a magnesium deficiency is based on the clinical symptoms and the presence of risk factors (anamnesis) in combination with the serum magnesium.
