Intracellular Magnesium Depletion Relates to Increased Urinary Magnesium Loss in Type I Diabetes

Abstract

We investigated whether erythrocyte magnesium (Mg) depletion exists in subjects with Type I diabetes. To this end, Mg levels in plasma, erythrocytes and urine were determined in 12 patients with Type I diabetes and compared with 12 healthy control subjects. Mean plasma Mg concentrations were comparable between diabetic patients and control subjects (0.90 ± 0.29 mmol/l vs 1.04±0.14 mmol/l, respectively; p = 0.16). Mean erythrocyte Mg concentration was significantly lower in the diabetic group compared with the control group (1.41 0.56 mmol/l vs. 2.94 ± 1.13 mmol/l, respectively; p< 0.0001). Mean urine Mg excretion was significantly elevated in the diabetic group with respect to the controls (6.86 ± 3.5 mmol/g creatinine/24 h vs. 4.03 ± 1.65 mmol/g creatinine/24 h, respectively; p = 0.02). As to the diabetic group, erythrocyte Mg concentration showed a significant inverse correlation with urine Mg excretion (r = - 0.58, p = 0.049). There was no correlation between urine Mg concentration and glycosylated hemoglobin or fasting plasma glucose level. The data suggest that intracellular Mg depletion without significant hypomagne-semia is related to increased urinary Mg loss in patients with Type I diabetes. The urinary Mg loss is not correlated with the degree of metabolic control.

Key words

Diabetes mellitus - Insulin-dependent - Erythrocyte magnesium - Urine magnesium - Diabetes control