Pancreatic, gallbladder, and intestinal responses to intraluminal magnesium salts in man

To assess the effects of magnesium chloride or magnesium sulfate on the release of cholecystokinin from the duodenum, outputs of trypsin and bilirubin were quantified during perfusion of the duodenum with isotonic solutions of these salts. Net intestinal water transport was also quantified. The results suggest that magnesium ion in the duodenum is a relatively weak stimulus to the pancreas and gallbladder, an action not augmented by the concomitant presence of the sulfate ion. As determined by this human bioassay method, magnesium is a weak stimulant to cholecystokinin release. Furthermore, magnesium chloride inhibits net jejunal water absorption and magnesium sulfate is even more potent, promoting net water secretion, effects which cannot be entirely attributed to cholecystokinin release.