Magnesium metabolism in hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism.

Abstract

In 1939, Hueber (1) reported clinical improvement in patients with thyrotoxicosis after parenteral administration of magnesium. Wiswell (2) subsequently was unable to demonstrate any change in the peripheral metabolism of thyroid hormone in hyperthyroid patients given magnesium sulfate injections, whereas Neguib (3) reported a decrease in size of both toxic and nontoxic goiters and clinical improvement in three thyrotoxic patients given daily injections of magnesium chloride. Tapley (4) demonstrated that the administration of L-triiodothyronine promptly produced negative magnesium balance in two myxedematous patients and called attention to the similarity between the symptoms of thyrotoxicosis and magnesium deficiency, as well as between myxedema and magnesium excess. That the serum magnesium is elevated in hypothyroidism and decreased in hyperthyroidism has long been known (5-7) but has recently been re-emphasized and as