Neurological consequences of magnesium deficiency: correlations with epilepsy

1. The plasma calcium and magnesium concentrations of sheep have been manipulated by feeding liquid diets with various calcium and magnesium concentrations. 2. When the magnesium status of the diet was low, both plasma calcium and magnesium concentrations declined, but the decline in calcium was much more rapid and extensive when the content of calcium in the diet was also low. This loss of calcium control in magnesium deficiency was attributed to end-organ resistance to parathyroid hormone. 3. Correlation between plasma and CSF calcium and magnesium concentrations indicated that convulsions occurred when CSF magnesium and plasma calcium concentrations declined. 4. The neurological mechanisms likely to be responsible for the induction of these convulsions are discussed and the factors precipitating convulsions in magnesium deficiency and epilepsy are compared.