Effect of an increase in the plasma potassium concentration on renal magnesium handling in healthy volunteers.

BACKGROUND

Lower plasma magnesium concentrations are associated with clinical problems such as arrhythmias and hypertension. Plasma magnesium concentration is tightly controlled by the kidney. Modifying renal magnesium threshold may provide a means to increase the plasma magnesium concentration. Since evidence has been presented that potassium deficiency by itself may increase renal magnesium loss, the hypothesis that elevating plasma potassium would result in an increase in plasma magnesium concentration was tested in healthy volunteers.

METHODS

Plasma potassium was raised in nine healthy volunteers by oral administration of 20 mg amiloride daily during 3 weeks. Magnesium metabolism was assessed before and after this period by plasma levels, urinary magnesium excretion and fractional magnesium excretion, and magnesium loading test (MLT). This MLT allows calculation of renal retention of a magnesium load.

RESULTS

Basal plasma magnesium levels (0.84 +/- 0.07 vs 0.84 +/- 0.05 mmol/l) as well as urinary magnesium excretion (4.37 +/- 1.73 vs 3.67 +/- 1.37 mmol/day) and erythrocyte magnesium levels (1.72 +/- 0.16 vs 1.76 +/- 0.14 mmol Mg/l red blood cells) were similar before and on amiloride. Plasma potassium rose significantly on amiloride (3.64 +/- 0.24 vs 4.07 +/- 0.54 mmol/l, P < 0.05). No change was observed in magnesium retention with the MLT: 22.7 +/- 26.7 vs 29.2 +/- 20.6% (P = 0.5).

CONCLUSIONS

Despite an increased plasma potassium concentration, no change was observed in plasma magnesium levels, urinary magnesium excretion or renal magnesium retention of an intravenously administered magnesium load. This indicates that increasing plasma potassium within the normal range does not modify the renal magnesium threshold.