Essay on Magnesium:-1. Physiological Functions of Magnesium 2. Sources of Magnesium 3. Blood Magnesium 4. Absorption 5. Excretion 6. Disease State.

Contents:

  1. Essay on the Physiological Functions of Magnesium
  2. Essay on the Sources of Magnesium
  3. Essay on the Blood Magnesium
  4. Essay on the Absorption of Magnesium
  5. Essay on the Excretion of Magnesium
  6. Essay on the Disease State of Magnesium

Essay # 1. Physiological Functions of Magnesium:

1. 70 per cent of the total magnesium con­tent (21 gm.) of the body is combined with calcium and phosphorus in the complex salts of bone. The remainder is in the soft tissues and body fluids. It is the principal cation of the soft tissue.

2. Magnesium ions act as activators for many of the phosphate group transfer enzymes.

3. It is found in certain enzymes, such as co-carboxylase.

4. It functions as a cofactor for oxidative phosphorylation.

Essay # 2. Sources of Magnesium:

It is present in milk, eggs, cabbage, cauliflowers and fruits, etc.

Essay # 3. Blood Magnesium:

The normal level of magnesium in blood is 1.7-2.6 mg/100 ml.

Essay # 4. Absorption of Magnesium:

1. A greater part (40 to 50 per cent) of the daily ingested magnesium (200 to 300 mg) is not absorbed.

2. Very high intake of fat, phosphate, cal­cium and alkalis diminish its absorption.

3. Parathyroid hormone increases its absorp­tion.

Essay # 5. Excretion of Magnesium:

Two-third of the total excreted magnesium is ex­creted in the feces and the remaining one-third into the urine.

Essay # 6. Disease State of Magnesium:

1. Magnesium deficiency causes depression, muscular weakness, and liability to con­vulsions. The serum magnesium level is below 1 mg/100 ml.

2. Its deficiency has also been observed in chronic alcoholics with the low serum magnesium and muscular weakness.

3. In cases of kwashiorkor, the serum mag­nesium level is low causing weakness.

4. Low values for serum magnesium have been reported in uremia, normal and ab­normal pregnancy, rickets, growth hor­mone treatment, hypercalcemia and the recovery phase of diabetic coma.

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