Tupys A, Palinska-Saadi A, Karasinski J, Jagielska A, Wagner B, Maj-Zurawska M, Lewenstam A, Halicz L, Bulska E; Universität Warschau, Polen

 

Magnesium is the second most abundant intracellular cation and one of the most abundant elements in the body. Although the total serum magnesium content does not represent more than 1% of total body magnesium, serum magnesium determinations have been routinely used in clinical practice to assess body magnesium status. Hypomagnesemia (low magnesium status), which is associated with many chronic diseases, is diagnosed using the serum magnesium reference range. In the recently published paper [1], the authors have discussed the cut off value of the lower level of magnesium normal status in blood serum. However, this recommendation concerns only the total magnesium concentration. It is known for many years that ionized magnesium concentration in blood serum can give us additional and valuable information about body magnesium status [2]. Ionized magnesium concentration in blood serum was found significantly lower, compared to control, in acute myocardial infarction and diabetes mellitus type I (D I). Total magnesium level was within physiological range in both cases. Recently, the serum Mg isotopic signature was investigated in a cohort of patients suffering from D I and compared to that in age- and gender- matched reference population (assumed healthy individuals) [3]. Patient were re-evaluated after one year. Several references materials were measured for validation purposes. The serum Mg isotopic composition of D I patients Year 1 and Year 2 was lighter than the serum Mg isotopic composition of the reference population. To investigate the possible source of isotopic composition changes during Mg transfer through the cellular membrane, diffusion of Mg and Ca through the artificial, ion selective membrane, has been investigated. 

[1] A. Rosanoff et al. Recommendation on an updated standardization of serum magnesium reference ranges, European Journal of Nutrition (2022), https://doi.org/10.1007/s00394-022-02916-w

[2] N.E. Saaris et al. Magnesium – an update in physiological, pathological and analytical aspects, Clinica Chimica Acta 294 1-26 (2000).

[3] R. Grigoryan et al. Multi-collector ICP-mass spectrometry reveals changes in the serum Mg isotopic composition in diabetes type I patients, J. Anal. At. Spectrom. 34 1514-1521 (2019)