On the effect of food magnesium level on serum magnesium, molar Mg:Ca and potassium value in pigs.

It has been suggested earlier that the serum Mg value cannot be considered as a reliable index indicating the body Mg status and that pigs may suffer from Mg deficiency despite the fact that the food Mg content is distinctly higher than the requirement level given by the Agricultural Research Council and National Research Council. In this study the effect of the food Mg level on the serum Mg value was more widely investigated and, simultaneously, the effect of the food Mg level on the serum Mg:Ca and K value was studied. Bone Mg contents were also determined to make sure in which groups the pigs had suffered from Mg deficiency.