Magnesium homeostasis: physiological and pathological implications.

Abstract

Moderate or severe Mg2+ deficiency produces biochemical abnormalities and clinical manifestations associated with skeletal and cardiac muscles, and renal pathologies. Mg2+ is involved in many homeostatic processes such as energetic metabolism, genetic material duplication and transcription, transport of substances across the cell membrane and enzymatic reactions. Regulation of intracellular and extracellular Mg2+ concentration depends on hormonal factors (insulin and parathormone), intestinal factors (paracellular absorption), renal factors (Henle loop reabsorption); as well as reservation deposits in bones and muscles. Even though a wide variety of food contains Mg diet has a low intake of Mg2+. The hypomagnesaemia prod pathological processes such as cramps, arrhythmias and arterial hypertension. This review pretends to describe the basis of the human physiology of Mg2+ functions, absorption regulation excretion and homeostatic pathways, as well as the clinical importance of low intake of Mg2+ effects, which become more prevalent.