Magnesium in intensive care unit: a review

ABSTRACT

Aim of the work there is an increased interest in the role of magnesium ions in clinical medicine, nutrition and physiology. Magnesium affects many cellular functions, including transport of potassium and calcium ions and modulates signal transduction, energy metabolism and cell proliferation. Magnesium deficiency is not uncommon among the general population its intake has decreased over the years. Magnesium derangement results in various symptoms and signs; magnesium supplementation or intravenous infusion may be beneficial in various diseased states; so this review aimed to highlight the physiology of magnesium in humans, the derangement of magnesium in the form of hyper and hypomagnesemia, their clinical picture and the clinical and therapeutic uses of magnesium in the critical ill patients