PEDIATRICS Vol. 31 No. 4 April 1963, pp. 552-568
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THE METABOLISM OF MAGNESIUM AND OTHER INORGANIC CATIONS AND OF NITROGEN IN ACUTE KWASHIORKOR

Geoffry C. Linder M.D., F.R.C.P.1, John D. L. Hansen M.D., M.R.C.P., D.C.H.1, and Cyril D. Karabus M.B., Ch.B.1

1 Departments of Medicine and Child Health, University of Cape Town, and the Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa

Continuous balance measurements of magnesium, nitrogen, potassium, sodium, calcium, and phosphorus have been made in the first 21 days of treatment of acute kwashiorkor, with particular attention to magnesium. In the next 30 days, isolated 5-day or 6-day balance determinations were made. Thirteen children, aged 10 months to 2 years, were studied. Five of them took a supplement of magnesium hydroxide throughout. In all but one, the balance of magnesium was strongly positive, much more so when the supplement was given. The retentions of magnesium and potassium were greater than was expected from the nitrogen balance, and that of phosphorus was greater than expected from the nitrogen and calcium balances. This reflects the deficient state of cell protoplasm in these ions, which others have reported. The magnesium content in urine was always very low on admission, but in a third of the children the magnesium concentration in serum was within normal limits. No symptoms referable to magnesium deprivation were observed in this series, but reasons are given for recommending that a magnesium supplement be used routinely in treatment.

Submitted on May 14, 1962
Accepted on September 28, 1962




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J. L. Caddell
Magnesium in the Nutrition of the Child
Clinical Pediatrics, March 1, 1974; 13(3): 263 - 272.
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