Intravenous magnesium sulfate with and without EDTA as a magnesium load test-is magnesium deficiency widespread?

Serum/plasma measurements do not reflect magnesium deficits in clinical situations, and magnesium load tests are used as a more accurate method to identify magnesium deficiency in a variety of disease states as well as in subclinical conditions. The objective of this study was to determine if people are indeed magnesium deficient or if the apparent magnesium deficiency is due to the composition of the infusate used in the load test. Magnesium load tests were performed on seven patients using three different Mg solution infusions-a Mg-EDTA (ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid)-nutrient cocktail used in EDTA chelation therapy containing several components including vitamins and minerals, and the same cocktail without EDTA and an infusion of an identical amount of magnesium in normal saline solution. There was no significant difference in the amount of magnesium retained in the 24 h after infusion among the three infusates. All infusates resulted in very high magnesium retention compared to previous published magnesium load studies. Magnesium deficiency may be widespread, and the relationship of Mg deficiency to related diseases requires further study.