[Metal content in children from Katowice and Rabka. I. Magnesium in blood and hair].

The authors determined the magnesium content in the blood and hair by atomic mass absorption. The studied material included preschool children from a kindergarten situated in the center of Katowice (n = 60) and their older teenage brothers and sisters (n = 10). The control group was made up to 24 preschool children from Rabka (a health resort in the mountains). It was found that the majority (over 60%) of preschool children in Katowice had a magnesium deficit. The magnesium content in teenagers was significantly higher than in their preschool siblings. Children from Rabka had much more favorable results.