Researchers identify genetic cause of magnesium deficiency

Mar 16 2011

Researchers and scientists of the Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, in cooperation with the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, and colleagues from the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland and the Czech Republic have succeeded in identifying a genetic cause of magnesium deficiency. The study from Dr. Dominik Müller of the Department of Pediatric Nephrology, ascertained changes in a gene which is involved in the regulation of magnesium processes involved in the kidney. This research which is published in the current issue of the journal "American Journal of human genetics", opens the way for possible future medicinal treatment of genetically caused magnesium deficiencies.

A magnesium deficiency, with symptoms of fatigue and muscle weakness up to severe seizures and heart rhythm disturbances, may also be associated with diabetes and high blood pressure and have up till now been mostly explained by dietary insufficiencies. Dr. Müller and his team have now shown that an altered gene may be the cause for this deficiency. Changes in a gene (Cnnm2), entail changes in the human blueprint and thus in the structure and function of protein sequence. In this case, the change affects a protein that is anchored in the membrane of kidney cells and intestinal cells and is responsible for the absorption of magnesium in the blood stream. Since this process no longer works in the defective protein, the magnesium is not put into the blood stream but excreted through the intestine and the urine and therefore forfeited. Dr. Mueller commented on his research results as follows: "Our results provide us with a number of new insights into magnesium metabolism in the body. In the end, following further research and development, we see the possibility to deal with such deficiencies medicinally".