Ordak M, Maj-Zurawska M, Matsumoto H, Bujalska-Zadrozny M, Kieres-Salomonski I, Nasierowski T, Wojnar M
Medical University of Warsaw, Centre for Preclinical Research and Technology (CePT), University of Warsaw, Poland
 

Several studies show reduced levels of magnesium in plasma and serum in the alcohol dependent patients. The measurement was often characterized by low hypomagnesemia detection. We have studied ionized and total magnesium concentration in blood plasma and in erythrocytes hemolysate. In our research, the tested group included 100 alcohol dependent patients (M=90, F=10) and 50 healthy people (M=30, F=20). The average number of days of continuous drinking was 82±7 days, while the number of alcohol portions containing 100 g of ethanol each patient consumed during the last three months was 27±10. Patients were qualified by psychiatrists on the basis of the scales measuring the degree of alcohol dependency. Patients were settled in the hospital and the measurements were made after 10 days.

Free magnesium fraction was determined using potentiometric method by means of ion selective electrodes using Microlyte 6 analyzer (KONE), and total magnesium - using automatic, biochemical Indiko Plus analyzer (Thermo Scientific). The total magnesium concentration in plasma was 0.81±0.08 mmol/L and 0.84±0.06 mmol/L in alcohol dependent patients and in healthy people, respectively. The ionized magnesium concentration in plasma was 0.51±0,11 mmol/L and 0.66±0.16 mmol/L L in alcohol dependent patients and in healthy people, respectively. The total magnesium concentration in erythrocytes was 1.64±0.75 mmol/L and 1.60±0.71 mmol/L in alcohol dependent patients and in healthy people, respectively. The ionized magnesium concentration in erythrocytes was 0.36±0.14 mmol/L and 0.71±0.13 mmol/L in alcohol dependent patients and in healthy people, respectively. The alcohol dependent patients have a much more significant reduction of the concentration of free magnesium in erythrocytes than in plasma.