Serum magnesium levels in protein-energy malnutrition
Singla, P.N.; Chand, P.; Kumar, A.; Kachhawaha, J.S.
Journal of Tropical Pediatrics 44(2): 117-119
1998
ISSN/ISBN: 0142-6338 PMID: 9604603 Document Number: 273668
Serum Mg concentrations were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry in 46 malnourished and 12 healthy children (3 months to 5 years old) recruited, at random, from the Department of Pediatrics, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India. The nutritional state of each child was classified in relation to weight for age and height for age using the Indian Academy of Pediatrics and the Waterlow classifications, respectively. National Centre for Health Statistics data were used for the purposes of comparison. Serum Mg concentrations were significantly lower in children with moderate (weight for age 61-70%) and severe (weight <=60%) malnutrition and in children with marked linear growth retardation (height for age <85%). Nearly half of the marasmic children had serum Mg concentrations that were in the hypomagnesaemic range (<1.56 mg/100 ml). Serum Mg concentrations were significantly correlated with height for age and serum albumin.