Magnesium:

• Second most common intracellular electrolyte

• Affects chemical balances of Ca++, Na+ and K+

• Synergistic with K+

• Opposes the entry of Ca++ into cells in the blood vessels walls and serves as a "natural calcium channel blocker"

• Cardiac irritability and arrhythmias, increased risk of sudden cardiac death

• Digitalis toxicity

• Intercellular K+ depletion and intererence with it's repletion

• Increased peripheral resistance and blood pressure in patients receiving diuretics

• Increased insulin resistance and cardiovascular complications in diabetics

• GI disorders--malabsorption syndromes, IBD, Chron's disease

• Migraine headaches

• Complications in patients receiving chemotherapy/immunosuppressants

Lab Tests:
While only 1% of body Md++ is distributed extracellularly (which does not reflect intracellular levels), serum Mg++ levels should still be tested to detect cases of obvious magnesium deficiency. The normal range for serum Mg++ in adults is 1.8 to 3.0 mg/dL, or 1.5 to 2.5 mEq/L.

Prevelance

The table below includes recent studies reporting hypomagnesemia in different patient populations

Reduce the risks, restore the balance for patients with hypomagnesemia associated with:

• Cardiocascular Disease--improves K+ repletion, decreases risk of digitalis toxicity, and helps prevent cardiac irritability and arrhythmias, risk of sudden cardiac death.
  

  Important regulator: "Magnesium regulates several cardiac ion channels, including the calcium channel and outward potassium currents lowering the cytosolic free magnesium concentration in magnesium-depleted states will markedly increase these outward potassium currents, shortening the action potential duration and increasing the susceptibility to ventricular arrhythmias."

• Hypertension--decreases periphal resistance, lowers BP in patients taking diuretics, and protects the delicate balance of Ca++, Na+, and K+.

• Diabetes--helps support insulin function and glucose metabolism, decreases CD complications and renal disease.

• GI Disorders--aids in healing bowel inflammation, particularly in patients with IBD.

• Whenever K+ Therapy is Initiated

• In High-risk Patients (e.g., Medical, Surgical & Pulmonary ICU's)

• In Patients Receiving Chemotherapy

• In Patients Receiving Immunosuppressants

• In Patients with Migraine Headaches with Low Serum Mg++ Levels

• The majority of ingested Mg++ is absorbed in the jejunum and ileum; solubility and absorption across a range of pHs are important to correct deficiencies.

• Some Mg supplements have low solubility and are poorly absorbed in the intestine.

• Common Mg salts, such as sulfate (Epsom salt), hydroxide (milk of magnesia), and oxide are poor supplements due to their low bioabailability

• Magnesium chloride may present unwanted effects created by its hygroscopic properties.

• Patients' response depends on more than just the amount of elemental Mg++ in each tablet. The response really depends on the amount of Mg++ absorbed and bioavailable to correct the deficiency.

A Critical Electrolyte...A Critical Difference

The only 12 hour sustained release magnesium supplementwith these benefits:

• More bioavailable Mg++ per dose (2.87 mEq) than other products

• Patented 12-hour continuous release formulation minimizes GI side effects (e.g., cramping, diarrhea) seen with other formulations

• Convenient q 12-h dosage regimen increases patient compliance and response

• Scored tablets may be broken in half without affecting the sustained release absorption

• Cost-effective--more bioavailable Mg++ at lower cost/day

• Available in bottles of 60 and 100 caplets, and boxes of 100 unit dose.

Elemental magnesium (Mg++) and mEq per dose are not the same as absorbable Mg++

The table below compares each product's solubility at the pH of the ileum and jejumum (where the majority of Mg++ is absorbed) and each product's bioavailability based on published studies.

Added Benefits:

Mag-Tab SR's lactate formulation provides more absorbable and bioavailable Mg++ than any other formulation. Plus, the unique 12-hour continuous release formulation assures unsurpassed absorption.