Magnesium, Serum

Magnesium, Serum

Magnesium is the fourth most abundant cation in the body and is second only to potassium within the cell. The adult human body contains 21 to 28 grams of Mg. Of this, 60% is in the bones, 20% in the skeletal muscle, 19% in other cells and about 1% in the extracellular fluid. Magnesium is often the mineral most deficient in modern diets. Mg catalyzes or activates more than 300 enzymes in the body. Low serum magnesium may cause hyperirritability, tetany, convulsions, EKG changes, hypertension, heart attacks, coronary vasospasms and premature atherosclerosis. High serum Mg may occur in dehydration, severe diabetic acidosis, Addison's disease, after a heart attack, in uremia and excessive intake of certain anti-acids.

Some sources of Mg are soybeans, shrimp, wheat germ, whole grains, molasses, clams, cornmeal, spinach, oysters, crab, peas, liver, beef, and chlorophyll in the green vegetables. Mg should be taken in a ratio of 2 Mg to 1 Ca.

The RDA for Mg is 420 mg/day.

Doctors who wish to order kits, please call our lab directly to set up an account before ordering. 316-684-7784

Process time: 5 to 7 business days

Process method: The methodology is by atomic absorption/ICP.

CPT code: 83735

Special instructions: None

Rejection causes: Hemolysis

Patient prep: None

Specimen volume: 1.5 mL serum

Minimum volume: 0.5 mL

Collection container: Trace element non-additive tube

Transport container: Metal-free plastic transport tube

Transport instructions: Refrigerate or freeze

Collection instructions: Click here for PDF

Normal values: Serum = 1.6 to 2.5 mg/dL

Reference one: Ryan, M.F.: The role of magnesium in clinical biochemistry: an overview. Ann. Clin. Biochem.,28:19-26, 1991.

Reference two: Shils, M.E.: Magnesium. In: Present Knowledge in Nutrition. 7th Ed. ILSI Press, 1996,pp. 256-264.

Reference three: Tietz Textbook of Clinical Chemistry, 3rd Ed., 1999. W.B. Saunders & Co. pp. 1034-1037.