Magnesium metabolism in hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism.

Abstract

In 1939, Hueber (1) reported clinical improve- ment in patients with thyrotoxicosis after paren- teral administration of magnesium. Wiswell (2) subsequently was unable to demonstrate any change in the peripheral metabolism of thyroid hormone in hyperthyroid patients given mag- nesium 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 thyrotoxico- sis and magnesium deficiency, as well as between myxedema and magnesium excess. That the se- rum magnesium is elevated in hypothyroidism and decreased in hyperthyroidism has long been known (5-7) but has recently been re-emphasized and as- sociated erythrocyte magnesium alterations re- ported (8).