Magnesium: Are We Consuming Enough?
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review discussing magnesium assessment methods and deficiency risks without original empirical data or systematic review methodology.
PubMed 30513803 · doi:10.3390/nu10121863
What was done
This paper reviewed the physiological role of magnesium, the clinical disorders linked to inadequate magnesium balance (such as skeletal deformities, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic syndrome), and the limitations of conventional diagnostic methods for assessing total body magnesium status.
What was found
The abstract provides no quantitative data or specific numerical findings. It reports qualitatively that routine serum magnesium measurements frequently fail to reflect total body magnesium stores, potentially obscuring widespread deficiency, and notes that alternative diagnostic tools like the magnesium loading test may provide more accurate reflections.
Why it matters
It highlights that relying solely on standard serum magnesium blood tests can lead to underdiagnosis of magnesium deficiency and subsequent clinical complications.
Limits
The abstract describes a narrative review with no original clinical data, systematic search methodology, sample size, or quantitative effect sizes reported. The diagnostic accuracy and practical implementation of alternative tests are not quantified.
Cited by
- context In one tissue biopsy study, 50% of people who were magnesium deficient showed normal blood magnesium levels.