Related Experiment Videos
Serum and rectal mucosal magnesium status in acute and chronic diarrhoea
N K Mittal1, H P Sachdev, H S Yadav
1Department of Pediatrics, Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi, India.
Insights
Infants with chronic diarrhea experience magnesium depletion, which worsens with illness duration. Magnesium levels tend to recover during convalescence, indicating its importance in pediatric gastrointestinal health.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Nutritional Science
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Magnesium is an essential mineral crucial for numerous physiological processes.
- Diarrheal diseases are common in infants and can lead to nutritional deficiencies.
- Understanding magnesium status in pediatric diarrhea is vital for effective management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess serum and rectal mucosal magnesium levels in infants with acute and chronic diarrhea.
- To compare magnesium status between different diarrheal groups and healthy controls.
- To investigate changes in magnesium levels during illness and recovery.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study comparing magnesium levels in four groups of infants (6-18 months).
- Groups included acute diarrhea, chronic diarrhea, extra-intestinal infections, and healthy controls.
- Serum and rectal mucosal magnesium content were measured.
Main Results:
- Infants with chronic diarrhea showed significantly lower tissue magnesium content at presentation.
- Serum magnesium levels decreased significantly during acute and chronic diarrhea episodes.
- Tissue magnesium levels increased during recovery in both acute and chronic diarrhea groups.
Conclusions:
- Infants with chronic diarrhea present with magnesium depletion.
- Prolonged diarrhea leads to progressive magnesium depletion.
- Magnesium status shows a tendency towards recovery during the convalescent period.
Abstract:
Serum and rectal mucosal magnesium content was estimated in children (6-18 months old) with acute diarrhoea (Group I: n = 50), chronic diarrhoea (Group II: n = 25), extra-intestinal infections (Group III: n = 15) and healthy controls (Group IV: n = 20). The sex and nutritional status of the different groups were comparable. The mean serum magnesium levels in acute and chronic diarrhoea were comparable to healthy and infected controls. The tissue magnesium content of infants with chronic diarrhoea was significantly (P less than 0.001) lower than other groups. Repeat estimation at discharge in 38 patients (25 in Group I, 13 in Group II) revealed a significant reduction in serum levels in both groups (P less than 0.05 and P less than 0.01, respectively) and in tissue levels in acute diarrhoea (P less than 0.05). A total of 23 infants (16 in Group I) were evaluated 2-3 weeks after discharge. There was an increase in tissue magnesium content at recovery in acute (P less than 0.02) and chronic (P greater than 0.05) diarrhoea groups. It is concluded that infants with chronic, but not acute diarrhoea, are magnesium depleted at presentation; with the continuation of diarrhoea there is a progressive depletion of magnesium; and there is a tendency to regain the magnesium status during the convalescent period.