Magnesium; electrolytes and blood gases during acute alcohol uptake at wine festivals

The influence of chronic alcoholism upon magnesium state has already been s hown by Siegenthaler (1987) or McCollister as early as 1963. Much less is k nown about magnesium reaction to acute ethanol intoxication in man. since d etermination of magnesium status during in vivo investigations in man must confine itself to (ionized) serum magnesium values, their correct interpret ation is important. Interpretation however strongly depends upon the fact, whether dietetic alterations or stress are causing the magnesium changes. I n a field experiment we therefore did not only measure electrolyte changes correlative with changes in blood ethanol content (BEC), but also changes i n blood gases, pH and lactate for differential diagnosis of serum magnesium levels in 62 female and male probands at a "Klocher Traminer" wine festiva l. Regardless of their actual BEC, the probands were asked to return 30 min utes after their first blood sampling and were encouraged to keep on consum ing alcohol or not, just to their liking. Most important results: 1. Ethanol uptake up to 0.5 promille leads to a clear fall in blood pH alon g with a slight fall in pO(2), which points i.a. towards an increased oxyge n release into tissues. 2. With increasing ethanol consumption, pH and BE values increase by way of backregulation, which would explain the existence of pseudonormal pH or BE values at higher degrees of intoxication. 3. Electrolyte loss in the higher promille range hits Mg selectively hard, it increases along the ratio Na: Ca: Mg geometrically 1:2:4.