Table 2.

Measurement of magnesium levels [6, 7].

(i) Total serum magnesium concentration

Filterable = 33% bound to proteins

25% bound to albumin and 8% to globulin

Unfilterable = 66% of which

92% is free and

8% is complexed to phosphate, citrate, or other compounds

[14]

(ii) Serum ionized Mg concentrate

(iii) Total and free red blood cell Mg concentration

(iv) Tissue Mg from muscle and bone

(v) NMR for free Mg in tissues (research test)

(vi) Magnesium retention test (research test)