Abstract
Magnesium (Mg) deficiency is an important factor in cardiovascular disease. Its importance in peripheral vascular Junction is investigated. Red blood cell (RBC) Mg, ankle/arm systolic pressure (SP) ratios and both peak-to-peak and Fourier ankle artery pulsatilities were measured in 20 normal controls and five patient groups: 20 with low RBC Mg, 20 with peripheral vascular disease (PVD) without complete occlusion, 20 diabetics, 10 with severe PVD and 68 others. Mean RBC Mg and vascular Junction parameters were low in all patient groups. Of 138 patients, 102 had low RBC Mg, 1.54±0.11 mmol/l (mean±SD) compared with 1.88±0.12 for controls. Ankle/arm SP ratios 0.75±0.17 (controls 1.09±0.07). Peak-to-peak ankle puhatility 7.9±3.7 (controls 13.5±2.2). Fourier anklepulsatility 9.2±3.9 (controls 16.6±3.7). Age 43.3± 11.2 years (controls 42±9.2). Of the 20 patients with PVD without occlusion, 12 had low RBC Mg, as did 16/20 of the diabetics and 9/10 of those with severe PVD. Magnesium deficiency is a highly significant factor in peripheral vascular disease.