STUDIES OF THE RESORPTION OF MAGNESIUM DU RING ACUTE MYOCARDIAL-INFARCTION

A double-blind placebo-controlled trial was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of oral magnesium during an acute myocardial infarction. The study involved 51 patients (17 women and 34 men) with a myocardial in farction. The diagnosis of myocardial infarction was confirmed accordi ng the WHO criteria, on the basis of history and laboratory and electr ocardiogram findings. Magnesium levels were measured in serum and whol e blood by atomic absorption spectrometry, at the time of hospitalisat ion (first day) and on days two, three, four and twenty following the infarct, and three months after the infarct. Variations in magnesium l evels in comparison with the day 1 value were evaluated and analysed. Serum and erythrocyte magnesium levels at the time of hospitalisation of these infarction patients were at the lower limit of normal and the re was no significant difference between the two groups regarding init ial levels. Serum magnesium increased slightly until day 3 in the plac ebo group. In contrast, serum magnesium significantly decreased in the placebo group between the third day and three months after the infarc t. Erythrocyte magnesium levels decreased throughout the study period in the placebo group. Levels were significantly lower than their initi al value from day 4 onwards. In contrast, there was a virtually contin uous increase in serum and erythrocyte magnesium levels in the group t reated with magnesium. The increase was significant from day 4 onwards . It can thus be concluded that the magnesium adipate used in this tri al is very probably well absorbed.