QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Purchase Article View Shopping Cart Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Hardwick, L. L. Articles by Lee, D. B. N. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Hardwick, L. L. Articles by Lee, D. B. N.

Magnesium Absorption: Mechanisms and the Influence of Vitamin D, Calcium and Phosphate¹

Division of Nephrology (111R), Veterans Administration Medical Center, Sepulveda, CA 91343

Magnesium absorption has been studied in both humans and animals under diverse experimental conditions. As a result, the data often appear confusing and conflicting. In this review we attempt to summarize information concerning Mg absorption and, where possible, to reconcile apparently conflicting observations. Most studies suggest that Mg is absorbed predominately in the distal intestine. At usual Mg intakes, Mg absorption occurs primarily by intercellular diffusional and solvent drag mechanisms. There is evidence for a saturable component of Mg absorption in the small intestine and the descending colon that is important at low dietary Mg intakes. Pharmacological doses of vitamin D increase Mg absorption in both vitamin D-deficient and vitamin D-replete animals. A substantial amount of Mg absorption, however, occurs independent of vitamin D. In addition, vitamin D may reduce Mg retention through increases in urinary Mg excretion. Intestinal interactions between Mg and calcium or phosphate have been demonstrated in both humans and animals. The nature of these interactions cannot be readily explained by data currently available.

KEY WORDS: • magnesium absorption • vitamin D • calcium • phosphate

¹ This work supported by the Center for Toxicological and Chemical Exposure, Los Angeles, the National Kidney Foundation of Southern California and the Veterans Administration Medical Research Foundation.

² Present address: Baxter Health Care Corporation, Route 120 and Wilson Road, Round Lake, IL 60073-0490.

³ Present address: 201 South Alvarado Street, Suite 402, Los Angeles, CA 90057.

⁴ Please address correspondence to: David B. N. Lee, M.D., Department of Nephrology (111R), Sepulveda V.A. Medical Center, 16111 Plummer Street, Sepulveda, CA 91343.

Manuscript received 1 August 1989. Revision accepted 15 June 1990.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				Q. Dai, M. J Shrubsole, R. M Ness, D. Schlundt, Q. Cai, W. E Smalley, M. Li, Y. Shyr, and W. Zheng The relation of magnesium and calcium intakes and a genetic polymorphism in the magnesium transporter to colorectal neoplasia risk Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, September 1, 2007; 86(3): 743 - 751. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]