Abstract

A large-scale survey of the normal magnesium content of various human tissues was carried out to facilitate clinical detection of magnesium deficiency, especially occult deficiency.

A review of the literature favours the magnesium content of skeletal muscle as the most reliable index of the body's store of magnesium.

There is a significant difference (P < 0·001) in both the serum and erythrocyte magnesium levels between normal pregnant women in the third trimester and the average normal population. The reason for this difference is discussed.