Hypomagnesemia Research Articles

Research on the influence of some types of water on seed germination in some vegetable plants

Numerous ancient cultures acknowledged the magnetic properties of magnets and utilized them as pain-relieving amulets. The Vedas, India's sacred books, discuss the use of magnets to control bleeding and treat specific female body ailments. Paracelsus, an alchemist and physician from the 16th century, discovered that magnets may cure most inflammations and ulcers, as well as many ailments of the bowel and uterus, and that they are beneficial for both internal and external illnesses. In the 18th century, Dr. Samuel Hahneman, the inventor of homeopathy, declared that "a magnetic wand can quickly and definitively cure a severe disease if it is brought close to the body." Magnetized water is also used well to treat assimilation issues (such as calcium and magnesium deficiencies and iron deficiency anemia). Magnetized water promotes early germination in the three species of legumes. The number of germinated seeds on the eighth day is the same for bean seeds watered with ozonated and magnetized water, and there are no significant variations between seeds irrigated with ozonated, filtered, and magnetized water.

Serum Magnesium level with SOFA score in predicting the Prognosis among Acute Coronary Syndrome patients and its associated complications in tertiary care centre

Introduction: Magnesium is an essential element in functioning human body. Low magnesium is associated with membrane destabilization, whereas high concentrations are membrane stabilizing and therefore, antiarrhythmic. Acute coronary syndrome comprises of ST segment elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI), non-ST segment elevated myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) and unstable angina where the blood flow to the heart is decreased. Magnesium plays important role in Sepsis and attributed to its effects on Immune System. Hypomagnesemia is commonly observed in patients admitted to Intensive Care Unit Aim: To find the prevalence of Serum Magnesium levels with SOFA score in assessing the prognosis in Acute Coronary Syndrome patients and its associated complications. Methodology: This is hospital-based cross-sectional study. The sample size was calculated to be 77. All patients of age more than 18 years who are diagnosed to have Acute Coronary Syndromes were included in this study after screening for the exclusion criteria. After written consent, all patients were subjected into study. Clinical presentation and demographic profile and lab parameters were assessed. Results: In this study of 77 patients the mean age was 60 ± 10.8; age group between 51-70 had highest proportion of 57%. About 71.40% are male, while 29% are female. Chest pain observed in 100% of patients while palpitation seen in 98.7%. Highest proportion of comorbidity seen in Type 2 Diabetes 90%, followed by Systemic Hypertension at 64%. The majority of patients across most variables fall into the Normomagnesemia category. The differences in distribution of age, gender, comorbidities, Troponin I status, and ECG changes & SOFA score across the magnesium levels categories are not statistically significant, as indicated by the P values being greater than 0.05. These patients did not develop any arrhythmic complications. Conclusion: This study showed no significant relationship between the Serum Magnesium and SOFA score and good prognosis among patients with acute coronary syndrome. However, further studies are required to increase the understanding of the association between Serum Magnesium and SOFA score in various study settings to diagnose the patient earlier and take necessary preventive measures and treatment to prevent the occurrence of complications. Keywords: Acute coronary syndrome, Serum Magnesium, SOFA score, Normomagnesemia

Unraveling the Magnesium Connection: The Cincinnati PPG's Pioneering Work on Mineral Metabolism in Diabetes and Pregnancy.

This study aimed to review the Cincinnati PPG's contribution to the understanding and treatment of neonatal hypocalcemia (NHC) in infants of diabetic mothers. This study is a retrospective review of the NIH-funded Program Project Grant (PPG) works related to mineral metabolism in type 1 diabetic pregnant women. The PPG investigators first described the epidemiology and the additional risk factors for NHC, namely prematurity and neonatal asphyxia, but also recognized the independent effect of maternal diabetes mellitus. They explored the link between NHC and maternal/neonatal hypomagnesemia. They finally conducted a randomized control trial of prevention of NHC by early administration of magnesium sulfate soon after birth to prevent NHC. The PPG in its various phases has allowed to reveal the important role that magnesium plays in the regulation of mineral metabolism in pregnancy and in particular the pregnancy complicated by pregestational diabetes. KEY POINTS: · Poor glycemic control during pregnancy leads to maternal magnesium deficiency.. · Maternal magnesium deficiency leads to fetal and neonatal magnesium deficiency.. · Neonatal magnesium deficiency leads to functional hypoparathyroidism and parathyroid hormone resistance..

Embryonic, Fetal, and Neonatal Complications in Infants of Diabetic Mothers: Insights from the Cincinnati Diabetes in Pregnancy Program Project Grant.

This study aimed to review how the Cincinnati Diabetes in Pregnancy Program Project Grant (PPG) contributed to the understanding and treatment of neonatal complications in infants of diabetic mothers (IDMs). This is a retrospective review of all PPG work on glycemic control at different pregnancy time points and its association with embryonic, fetal, and neonatal complications, such as congenital malformations (CMs), intrauterine growth restriction, macrosomia, hypoglycemia, respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), asphyxia, and polycythemia. We found that maternal vasculopathy and poor glycemic control during embryogenesis, but not frequency of maternal hypoglycemic episodes or insulin therapy, are independent risk factors for major CMs. A suggestive association of major CMs with maternal Magnesium deficiency was also observed. Poor glycemic control during late embryogenesis and early fetal development was associated with an increased risk of minor CMs. We described a biphasic pattern of fetal growth whereby early growth delay was followed by enhanced fetal growth associated with neonatal macrosomia. Macrosomia was associated with poorer glycemic control in the third trimester and an increased risk of birth trauma. Macrosomia was also correlated with animal-origin insulin concentrations in cord blood, demonstrating that insulin bound to antibodies can cross the placenta and may affect the fetus. We also showed that neonatal hypoglycemia was significantly associated with third-trimester glycemic control, in addition to hyperglycemia occurring during labor. With modern management and adequate prenatal care, IDMs are no longer at increased risk for RDS. Perinatal asphyxia was associated with increased proteinuria appearing in pregnancy, maternal hyperglycemia before delivery, and prematurity. Polycythemia in IDMs is prevalent and correlates with proxy measurements of fetal hypoxemia (nucleated red blood cells at delivery) and poorer glycemic control in late pregnancy. The PPG in its various phases revealed the important role of glycemic control at nearly every stage of pregnancy including labor. KEY POINTS: · Poor glycemic control during embryogenesis is a major risk factor for CMs.. · Magnesium deficiency might contribute to major malformations.. · Macrosomia is associated with poor glycemic control in the third trimester.. · Strict glycemic control reduces fetal and neonatal morbidity in pregnancies with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus..

Calcium-rich seawater affects the mechanical properties of echinoderm skeleton

Shifts in the magnesium to calcium ratio of seawater in the geological history are thought to have profoundly affected biomineralization of marine invertebrates, including some echinoderms, which changed their skeletal mineralogy from high-magnesium to low-magnesium calcite and vice versa. Here we report on experiments that aimed to investigate the effect of ambient seawater magnesium to calcium ratio on magnesium to calcium ratio and nanomechanical properties in the spines of two echinoid species (Arbacia lixula and Paracentrotus lividus). We found that echinoids cultured in seawater with a low magnesium to calcium ratio produced a skeleton with lower both magnesium content and nanohardness than those of the control specimens incubated under normal (high) magnesium to calcium ratio conditions. These results may suggest that at certain times in the geological past (during the so-called calcite seas) sea urchins with decreased skeletal magnesium contents were more susceptible to damage due to physical disturbances, predation and post-mortem taphonomic processes. Increased skeletal hardness of echinoids from the so-called aragonite seas is expected to enhance their taphonomic potential, thus, to some extent, mitigates the preservation bias related to increased solubility of high-magnesium calcite.

Long-Term Monitored Norway Spruce Plots in the Ore Mountains-30 Years of Changes in Forest Health, Soil Chemistry and Tree Nutrition after Air Pollution Calamity.

The Ore Mountains were historically one of the most polluted areas in Europe, where high sulphur dioxide concentrations and a high level of atmospheric deposition led to a vast decline in Norway spruce stands in the mountain ridge plateau. In this article, we evaluate the trends in the atmospheric deposition load, soil chemistry, tree nutrition, crown defoliation and height increment in a network of twenty research plots monitored for last thirty years in this region. The decrease in sulphur and nitrogen deposition was most pronounced at the end of 1990s. Extreme values of sulphur deposition (100-200 kg.ha-1.year-1) were recorded in throughfall under mature Norway spruce stands in the late 1970s, and after felling of the damaged stand, the deposition levels were comparable to open plot bulk deposition. Nitrogen deposition decreased more slowly compared with sulphur, and a decrease in base cation deposition was observed concurrently. The current deposition load is low and fully comparable to other mountain areas in central Europe. Accordingly, the health of young spruce stands, as assessed by defoliation and height increment, has improved and now corresponds to the Czech national average. On the other hand, no significant changes were observed in the soil chemistry, even though some of the plots were limed. Acidic or strongly acidic soil prevails, often with a deficiency of exchangeable calcium and magnesium in the mineral topsoil, as well as decreases in available phosphorus. This is reflected in the foliage chemistry, where we see an imbalance between a relatively high content of nitrogen and decreasing contents of phosphorus, potassium and calcium. Despite the observed positive trends in air quality and forest health, the nutritional imbalance on acidified soils poses a risk for the future of forest stands in the region.

Association between magnesium depletion score and stroke in US adults with chronic kidney disease: A population-based study

BackgroundMagnesium ion metabolism disorder is pervasive in the chronic kidney disease population, which is affected by many factors. Magnesium ion plays an important role in maintaining vascular functional integrity.. The Magnesium Depletion Score (MDS), serving as a novel metric for the assessment of magnesium deficiency, has not been thoroughly investigated for its association with stroke in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Therefore, this study aims to explore the relationship between the MDS index and stroke in CKD patients. MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional population-based study using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2009–2016 to explore the impact of MDS on the stroke outcome of CKD patients. The primary outcome was the risk of stroke in CKD patients. Sample-weighted multivariate logistic regression was used in our analysis. ResultsIn this study of 3536 CKD patients from the database, we found an 8.6 % prevalence of stroke with higher stroke risk in older individuals and males. Lower dietary magnesium intake and higher MDS scores were significantly associated with stroke risk. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed a dose-dependent relationship between MDS scores and stroke likelihood, independent of demographic and clinical factors. Subgroup analysis confirmed these findings, particularly in those with hypertension, diabetes, and obesity, without significant interactions (all p > 0.05). ConclusionMagnesium depletion is independently associated with a heightened stroke risk in chronic kidney disease patients.

Investigating the Discoloration of Leaves of Dioscorea polystachya Using Developed Atomic Absorption Spectrometry Methods for Manganese and Molybdenum.

The Chinese yam (Dioscorea polystachya, DP) is promising for the food and pharmaceutical industries due to its nutritional value and pharmaceutical potential. Its proper cultivation is therefore of interest. An insufficient supply of minerals necessary for plant growth can be manifested by discoloration of the leaves. In our earlier study, magnesium deficiency was excluded as a cause. As a follow-up, this work focused on manganese and molybdenum. To quantify both minerals in leaf extracts of DP, analytical methods based on atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) using the graphite furnace sub-technique were devised. The development revealed that the quantification of manganese works best without using any of the investigated modifiers. The optimized pyrolysis and atomization temperatures were 1300 °C and 1800 °C, respectively. For the analysis of molybdenum, calcium proved to be advantageous as a modifier. The optimum temperatures were 1900 °C and 2800 °C, respectively. Both methods showed satisfactory linearity for analysis. Thus, they were applied to quantify extracts from normal and discolored leaves of DP concerning the two minerals. It was found that discolored leaves had higher manganese levels and a lower molybdenum content. With these results, a potential explanation for the discoloration could be found.

Magnesium, selenium and zinc deficiency compromises antioxidant defense in women with obesity.

Studies have shown that deficiencies in magnesium, selenium, and zinc in individuals with obesity compromise the endogenous antioxidant defense system. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of mineral deficiency on enzymatic antioxidant defense in women with obesity. The study involved 63 women with obesity (BMI ≥ 35kg/m2) and 77 eutrophic women (BMI between 18.5 and 24.9kg/m2). Variables such as fasting glucose, glycated hemoglobin, fasting insulin, and serum lipids were analyzed. Insulin resistance was measured using the homeostasis assessment model (HOMA-IR) and beta cell function using the homeostasis assessment model (HOMA-β). Dietary intake of energy, macronutrients (including magnesium, zinc, and selenium), and plasma, erythrocyte, and urinary concentrations of these minerals were measured and analyzed. Serum cortisol, plasma leptin, plasma thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, and the activity of erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD), erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and erythrocyte catalase were also analyzed. Women with obesity had reduced plasma and erythrocyte concentrations and greater urinary excretion of all minerals compared to normal weight women (p < 0.05). There was a positive association between erythrocyte concentrations of zinc and selenium and the activity of the GPX and SOD enzymes in erythrocytes in women with obesity (p < 0.05), in addition to a positive association between serum insulin and the enzyme GPX, which is dependent on dietary selenium (p < 0.05). Individuals with obesity are deficient in magnesium, selenium, and zinc, which appears to impair the antioxidant defense system and contribute to important metabolic disorders such as oxidative stress in these patients.

Clinical manifestation and management of hypomagnesemia in Theileria spp. infected periparturient Malabari goats

BackgroundGrass tetany or hypomagnesemia is a metabolic syndrome causing acute neurological manifestations in periparturient ruminants grazing on rapidly grown green pastures or cereal crops with high potassium or nitrogen content and low magnesium levels. Clinical reports of naturally occurring grass tetany in goats are least described in the literature and it is considered to be a rare disease. The present study documents the clinical manifestation and management of hypomagnesemia-associated excitatory neuropathy in two Theileria spp. infected Malabari goats presented to the small ruminant medicine OP unit of the University Veterinary Hospital and Teaching Veterinary Clinical Complex, Mannuthy, Thrissur, Kerala, India. MethodsThe first goat was in the last trimester of pregnancy and was showing signs of hyperesthesia, limping, difficulty in standing, and inappetence for the last six hours. The second goat was kidded six weeks back and was showing recurrent epileptic seizures and hyporexia from the previous day. Both the goats were kept on extensive grazing from the forest areas with unidentified lush vegetation. On clinical evaluation, both the goats were showing persistent excitatory neurological signs. Fecal examination, peripheral blood smear examination, PCR screening panel for hemoparasites, Complete Blood Count, and serum levels of calcium, magnesium, and glucose were evaluated. ResultsA significant reduction in serum magnesium levels was noted in both cases along with the varied glucose levels. Theileria spp. infection was noticed in blood smear examination and confirmed by PCR. The goats responded well to the therapy using MIFEX™ and other supportive medications and showed uneventful recovery. ConclusionIt is suggested that the farmers should be vigilant enough while allowing goats to graze in unknown vegetation and prevent indiscriminate fodder intake during periods of drought. This is the first documented report of hypomagnesemic excitatory neurologic symptoms in Theileria spp. infected periparturient Malabari goats and showing response to appropriate therapy.

A Comprehensive Review of the Role of Magnesium in Critical Care Pediatrics: Mechanisms, Clinical Impact, and Therapeutic Strategies.

Magnesium is an essential mineral with pivotal roles in various physiological processes, including enzyme function, neuromuscular regulation, and cardiovascular health. Magnesium's importance in critically ill pediatric patients is magnified due to its involvement in maintaining cellular homeostasis and potential therapeutic benefits. This review comprehensively analyzes magnesium's role in critical care pediatrics, focusing on its physiological mechanisms, clinical impact, and therapeutic strategies. Magnesium's functions in energy production, protein synthesis, and electrolyte balance underscore its significance in critical illness, where imbalances can lead to severe complications such as arrhythmias, neuromuscular disturbances, and respiratory issues. The review examines the clinical consequences of magnesium deficiency, including its impact on various body systems and the potential exacerbation of critical conditions. It also explores therapeutic strategies to optimize patient care, including supplementation practices, dosing considerations, and monitoring protocols. By summarizing recent research and clinical guidelines, this review aims to enhance understanding of magnesium's role in critical care and provide evidence-based recommendations for its management. The insights provided are intended to guide clinicians in integrating magnesium therapy into critical care practices, ultimately improving patient outcomes and advancing the management of critically ill pediatric patients.

Low Calcium-High Magnesium Krebs-Henseleit Solution Combined with Adenosine and Lidocaine Improved Rat Aortic Function and Structure Following Cold Preservation.

Background and objectives: The main problem of vascular preservation is the maintenance of vessel graft quality and function following extended storage. Conventional preservation solutions such as histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate (HTK) solution, Phosphate-Buffer Solution (PBS), or sodium chloride 0.9% has been shown to be inadequate in preserving vascular physiological function after 3 days of cold storage. This study aimed to evaluate whether adenosine and lidocaine (AL) in a modified Krebs-Henseleit (KH) solution can preserve the function and histological structure of rat aortic rings after 6 days. Materials and Methods: Thirty-five aortic rings from male Wistar rats (200-300 g) were harvested and immediately immersed in one of the assigned cold preservation solutions: standard KH, modified KH (mod KH) with lower calcium (Ca2+) and higher magnesium content (Mg2+) with or without adenosine and lidocaine (mod KH-AL), and modified KH with AL, insulin, and melatonin (Mod KH-ALMI). The contraction and relaxation function of the aortic rings were examined using an isometric force transducer after 6 days of cold preservation. Hematoxylin and eosin staining were used to analyze the rings' histological structure. Results: Vascular contraction and relaxation functions were severely affected after a 6-day cold storage period in standard KH. Modifying the KH solution by reducing the Ca2+ and increasing the Mg2+ levels greatly recovered the vessel functions. The addition of AL or ALMI to the modified KH did not further recover vascular contractility. However, only the addition of AL to the modified KH increased the ACh-induced relaxation at 6 days when compared to the conventional KH, suggesting that endothelium preservation is improved. From histological analysis, it was found that the addition of AL but not ALMI further improved the endothelial lining and the structure of the elastic membrane layers of the preserved vessels after 6 days of cold preservation. Conclusions: The addition of AL to low calcium-high magnesium KH solution significantly enhanced endothelial preservation and improved endothelial-induced relaxation of preserved vessels after 6 days of cold storage.

Magnesium deficiency induced leaf chlorosis affects plant growth, mineral concentration and fruit quality in field pomelo trees

Healthy trees are considered the foundation for high-quality pomelo production; however, leaf chlorosis frequently happens in pomelo orchards, and the reasons and adverse effects on plant growth and fruit quality are poorly understood. We conducted a field investigation with six paired groups between the yellow and green leaves of pomelo trees to analyze the growth, mineral and quality characteristics in different leaf positions and fruit parts. Compared with green pomelo trees, the concentrations of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) were decreased and increased potassium (K) in various leaf organs of yellow pomelo trees, resulting in accumulated non-structural carbohydrates and reduced growth variables (including SPAD value as relative chlorophyll content, dry weight, leaf area, water content, and specific leaf weight), which was amplified with fruit than without fruit. Also, there was the highest positive correlation between leaf Mg concentration and SPAD value, further confirmed by the path analysis and random forest analysis, implying that Mg is the main factor affecting leaf chlorosis. Moreover, leaf chlorosis also affected fruit quality, in which the concentrations of N, P and Ca were decreased and increased K and Mg, with lower sugar content (including total soluble sugar, sucrose, and total soluble solids) and higher acidity content (including pH, vitamin C, and titratable acidity), resulting in decreased total soluble solids/titratable acidity and antioxidant capacity (less phenol content). The positive correlations between leaf Mg concentration and fruit quality parameters were also observed. However, these measured parameters were highly separated and accounted for 53.1 % of leaf and fruit organs between the yellow and green leaves of pomelo trees. Overall, our results demonstrate that Mg deficiency induced leaf chlorosis affects plant growth and fruit quality in pomelo trees, that SPAD can be used to monitor leaf Mg status, and these findings provide the basis for optimized nutrient management in sustainable pomelo production.

Abnormalities of serum magnesium levels in dialysis patients undergoing parathyroidectomy.

In primary hyperparathyroidism, postoperative hypocalcemia can be exacerbated by magnesium deficiency. However, the significance of magnesium homeostasis in surgery for secondary hyperparathyroidism is unknown. In this study, 268 consecutive adult patients on renal replacement therapy who underwent parathyroidectomy for secondary hyperparathyroidism were included for analysis. We found that about one fifth presented with hypomagnesemia (5.6%) or hypermagnesemia (14.6%). Hypomagnesemia was associated with lower calcium levels and longer postoperative hospital stays. Hypermagnesemia was associated with higher calcium-phosphorus products and lower parathyroid hormone levels. In multivariate analysis, patient age, alkaline phosphatase, and osteocalcin were independent predictors of prolonged stay after parathyroidectomy. There was a positive correlation between serum magnesium levels and severity of itching in these patients. Calcium-phosphorus products and serum magnesium levels were independently associated with pruritus. In conclusion, magnesium abnormalities play a minor role in hungry bone syndrome after parathyroidectomy for secondary hyperparathyroidism. Patients with higher serum magnesium levels had greater severity of pruritus.

Association between dietary magnesium intake and incident chronic kidney disease: a prospective observational cohort study

BackgroundAlthough serum magnesium deficiency is linked to higher cardiovascular disease risk, its association with chronic kidney disease (CKD) remains unclear. ObjectivesThis study aimed to evaluate the relationship between dietary magnesium intake and CKD development in adults with clinically normal kidney function. MethodsThe prospective observational cohort study evaluated 188,510 participants (median age, 57.0 y; female, 54.1%) from the UK Biobank. Dietary magnesium intake was assessed through a 24-h dietary recall questionnaire compromising a list of 206 foods and 32 beverages and categorized into quintiles. The primary outcome was incident CKD diagnosed through International Classification of Diseases-10 and Office of Population Censuses and Surveys 4 codes. Incident CKD, defined as estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of <60 mL/min/1.73 m2, was also assessed in a subcohort with creatinine follow-up data. ResultsThe median magnesium intake amount per person was 323.2 mg/d [interquartile range (IQR): 269.4–382.7 mg/d]. During 1,826,038.1 person-years of follow-up (median: 9.6 y; IQR: 9.3–10.3 y), CKD developed in 5,878 participants. The incidence of CKD was progressively higher in participants with lower magnesium intake (2.8%, 2.8%, 3.0%, 3.2%, and 3.7% in Q5–Q1, respectively). Cox regression analysis revealed that the hazard ratios (HRs) for incident CKD increased in a stepwise manner toward lower magnesium intake quintiles {adjusted HR (95% confidence interval [CI])—Q4: 0.97 (0.89, 1.06); Q3: 1.05 (0.96, 1.14); Q2: 1.12 (1.03, 1.21); Q1: 1.30 (1.20, 1.41)} relative to Q5 (P-linearity < 0.001). Similar results were observed with eGFR-defined CKD outcome [adjusted HR (95% CI)—Q4: 1.09 (0.92, 1.28); Q3: 1.15 (0.98, 1.35); Q2: 1.21 (1.03, 1.42); Q1: 1.41 (1.20, 1.65) relative to Q5; P-linearity < 0.001]. ConclusionsLower dietary magnesium intake was associated with higher risk of incident CKD in adults with clinically normal kidney function. Further controlled studies are required to establish the potential benefit of adequate magnesium intake.

A study of clinical evaluation of migraine and other seizure related headaches in patients with Epilepsy - a prospective, cross-sectional, observational study

Introduction Epilepsy and Migraine are the chronic disorders with recurrent neurological dysfunction associated with headache and autonomic, abdominal and psychotic features. In some patients it may be difficult to differentiate between migraine and the seizure episodes. Both are having comorbid symptoms and occurrence. Migraine patients can develop seizure and epileptics can have migraine attacks. Epileptologists proposed the hyperexcitability of the altered brain tissue, as the cause of seizure and migraine headache occurrence and vice versa. Enhanced hyperexcitability of cortical neurons and diminished threshold are the pathophysiological mechanisms enumerated in these conditions. Low magnesium in brain and the altered neurotransmitters are responsible for increased cortical excitability. Both the environmental as well as the genetic factors might cause these changes.

Effects of an Acute Dose of Zinc Monomethionine Asparate and Magnesium Asparate (ZMA) on Subsequent Sleep and Next-Day Morning Performance (Countermovement Jumps, Repeated Sprints and Stroop Test).

The goal of the present study was to determine whether an acute dose of a zinc-containing nutritional supplement (ZMA) has any effects on sleep and morning performance in recreationally trained males. Nineteen males participated in a repeated-measures within-subjects study to assess objective and subjective measures of sleep, completed counter-movement jumps (CMJ) and repeated sprint morning performance (RSP). Three days of baseline food intake showed no major deficiencies of zinc, magnesium or vitamin B6 for all participants (11.9 ± 3.4, 395 ± 103 and 2.7 ± 0.9 mg.day-1, respectively). Sleep (22:30-06:30 h) was assessed via actimetry, and either a control (no tablets, NoPill), dextrose placebo (PLAC) or ZMA was ingested 30-60 min before retiring to bed for two nights. The participants undertook the three conditions (NoPill, PLAC or ZMA) administered in a counterbalanced order. The data were analyzed using general linear models with repeated measures. In healthy active males who consume diets of adequate micronutrients, sleep normally and maintain good sleep hygiene (time to bed and wake times), ZMA supplementation had no beneficial effect on RSP or performance in the Stroop test (p > 0.05) but did improve CMJ height (p < 0.001) compared to that of PLAC but not NoPill (p > 0.05). Supplementation of ZMA for two nights had no effect on sleep, RSP or cognitive function. The NoPill condition elucidated the effects of the intervention under investigation.

Nutrition to support a healthy skeleton

Background. Bone tissue is actively exposed to environmental factors and lifestyle. Since the bone mass accumulated in childhood will determine the state of the skeleton during a person’s subsequent life, it is necessary to promote its maximum increase. Sufficient nutrition is one of the main factors in maintaining bone health. The purpose of our study was to determine the level of daily basic nutrient intake among schoolchildren and to reveal its relationship with clinical disorders of the musculoske­letal system. Materials and methods. Using a computer program, we assessed the actual diet of 65 schoolchildren aged from 8 to 17 years. Results. It was found that 90 % of children were deficient in iodine and calcium, and more than 70 % were deficient in zinc and selenium. The deficiency of potassium, magnesium, iron, copper, fluorine, manganese, and phosphorus was less pronounced. A significant deficiency of vitamin D, β-carotene, vitamin A, biotin, and vitamin E was noted. In almost half of the examined children, the share of saturated fatty acids in the diet exceeds the recommended norm, while the level of polyunsaturated fatty acids is significantly reduced. In 93.8 % of schoolchildren, the nutritional ratio between calcium and phosphorus is disturbed. Conclusions. The obtained results testify to the unbalanced diet of schoolchildren and inconsistency with physiological needs. Deficiency of a number of nutrients can contribute to musculoskeletal pain, convulsive syndrome, fractures, caries and recurrent respiratory di­sease.

It is not crystal clear: “nuances” in the selection of raw materials for Iron Age translucent glass revealed by chemical analyses of beads from central Italy

The Iron Age was a period of change, with many innovations in the glass-making technology. The chemical composition of the set of objects considered in the present study demonstrates the diversity of the raw materials used and the depth of knowledge about the manipulation of glass appearance in the eighth-sixth centuries BCE. The study was carried out using fibre optics reflection spectroscopy and portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometry at the museums’ premises to examine a large number of glass beads and preliminarily group them on the basis of their composition and spectral characteristics. In addition, a smaller set of selected samples was analysed by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry to provide a comprehensive chemical characterisation of the material. The compositional data indicated that the samples belonged to the high magnesium and low magnesium glass compositional types. Only one sample was recognised as low magnesium medium potassium glass. Glasses within each group were made from different sands, suggesting different provenances. Some of the samples were suggested to be of local origin, while the others were interpreted as imported glass. Evidence of glass colouring, decolouring and recycling are also discussed.

Serum Magnesium Concentration in Patients With Bell's Palsy: A Case-Control Study.

Introduction: Some conditions such as hyperglycemia, preeclampsia, migraine, inflammation, oxidative stress, and peripheral neuropathy are associated with magnesium deficiency and Bell's palsy. To date, however, studies have not addressed serum magnesium concentration in patients with Bell's palsy. In this article, we hypothesized that these patients may have a decreased serum magnesium concentration compared to healthy controls. Materials and Methods: In the study, a total of 24 patients with Bell's palsy and 24 healthy individuals matched were investigated. Atomic absorption spectrometry was used to determine serum magnesium concentration. The groups were then statistically compared for demographics and serum magnesium concentration. Results: No significant differences were found between Bell's palsy patients and healthy controls in age (P = .846), sex (P = 1.0), and body mass index (P = .410). However, patients with Bell's palsy had significantly lower serum magnesium levels (µg/dL) compared to healthy controls [11.44 ± 1.54 (8.9-15.8)] versus [27.35 ± 2.82 (24.3-36.2); (P < .001)]. Conclusions: Our results suggest an association between decreased serum magnesium concentration and Bell's palsy. However, this is the first study on the topic and its limitations should be considered.