Endpoint

Serum magnesium concentration

A metallic element that has the atomic symbol Mg, atomic number 12, and atomic weight 24.31. It is important for the activity of many enzymes, especially those involved in oxidative phosphorylation.

Definition from MeSH (D008274), National Library of Medicine, read 2026-09-23. NLM revises MeSH; this copy may not reflect its current record.

CAT:outcome/serum-magnesiumreported in mg/dL5 findings from 1 compound

Open in the graph

What moved it

How to read these marks

5 findings · 1 compound · 1 null · by evidence strength

Compound	Direction	Findings	Strongest evidence
magnesium(2+)	up 4 · no effect 1	5	Evidence strength: moderate. Human evidence with one recorded weakness, or capped at moderate by its design or by unread numbers.

Reported to move it

4 findings

magnesium(2+) — increases
ModerateEvidence strength: moderate. Human evidence with one recorded weakness, or capped at moderate by its design or by unread numbers.Findingreplicated ×3
“The analysis indicated that Mg supplementation led to a significant increase in serum Mg concentrations (WMD = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.32 to 1.06; P < 0.01).”
Quoted verbatim from Effect of Magnesium Supplements on Improving Glucose Control, Blood Pressure and Lipid Profile in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis..
Study

meta-analysis
Population

adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM); review pooled trials using oral and intravenous magnesium administration
Effect 0.69 mean difference, 95% CI 0.32 to 1.06
Effect of Magnesium Supplements on Improving Glucose Control, Blood Pressure and Lipid Profile in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis.2025PMID:40641714Permalink
magnesium(2+) — increases
Very limitedEvidence strength: very limited. Human evidence with major recorded weaknesses, or non-human, uncontrolled or unverified evidence.Findingreplicated ×3
“Serum magnesium level was higher after magnesium supplementation compared with placebo (0.75±0.02 vs 0.70±0.02 mmol/l, p=0.016); this was also the case for the urinary magnesium excretion (magnesium/creatinine ratio 0.23±0.02 vs 0.15±0.02, p=0.005).”
Quoted verbatim from Oral magnesium supplementation does not affect insulin sensitivity in people with insulin-treated type 2 diabetes and a low serum magnesium: a randomised controlled trial..
Study

crossover
Participants

14
Duration

6 weeks
Dose

15 mmol magnesium per day (360 mg) as magnesium gluconate liquid, 50 ml three times daily, for 6 weeks
Population

Adults with insulin-treated type 2 diabetes and serum magnesium at or below 0.79 mmol/l, 14 participants
Oral magnesium supplementation does not affect insulin sensitivity in people with insulin-treated type 2 diabetes and a low serum magnesium: a randomised controlled trial.2024PMID:37922013Permalink
magnesium(2+) — increases
Very limitedEvidence strength: very limited. Human evidence with major recorded weaknesses, or non-human, uncontrolled or unverified evidence.Findingreplicated ×3
“Despite significant increases in plasma magnesium among study participants who received magnesium compared with those who received placebo, magnesium supplementation did not slow the progression of vascular calcification in study participants.”
Quoted verbatim from The Effect of Magnesium Supplementation on Vascular Calcification in CKD: A Randomized Clinical Trial (MAGiCAL-CKD)..
Study

RCT
Duration

12 months
Dose

oral magnesium hydroxide 15 mmol twice daily
Population

Adults with predialysis chronic kidney disease (eGFR 15 to 45 ml/min)
The Effect of Magnesium Supplementation on Vascular Calcification in CKD: A Randomized Clinical Trial (MAGiCAL-CKD).2023PMID:36749131Permalink
magnesium(2+) — increases
Very limitedEvidence strength: very limited. Human evidence with major recorded weaknesses, or non-human, uncontrolled or unverified evidence.Findingreplicated ×3
“There was a significantly higher concentration of magnesium in the magnesium group compared with that in the placebo group (MD = 0.91 mg/dL; p<0.00001).”
Quoted verbatim from Effects of perioperative magnesium on postoperative analgesia following thoracic surgery: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials..
Study

meta-analysis
Dose

intravenous perioperative magnesium, dose not stated
Population

adults undergoing thoracic surgery receiving perioperative intravenous magnesium
Effects of perioperative magnesium on postoperative analgesia following thoracic surgery: a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.2024PMID:38953415Permalink

Measured, no effect detected

1 finding

magnesium(2+) — no detected effect on
Very limitedEvidence strength: very limited. Human evidence with major recorded weaknesses, or non-human, uncontrolled or unverified evidence.FindingNull result
“There was no significant change in serum magnesium after 6 and 12 weeks of magnesium supplementation and in controls.”
Quoted verbatim from Positive effects of magnesium supplementation in metabolic syndrome..
Study

RCT
Participants

54
Dose

400 mg oral magnesium daily for 12 weeks
Population

patients with metabolic syndrome
Positive effects of magnesium supplementation in metabolic syndrome.2024PMID:39380547Permalink

How it is measured

Magnesium concentration in serum, plasma, or whole blood by clinical colorimetric assay (calmagite or xylidyl blue) or by atomic absorption spectrometry. Matrix and assay recorded with each finding — erythrocyte and whole-blood magnesium sample a different pool from serum and the values are not interchangeable.

Measured, not recorded

Subject: serum magnesium concentration
Measurements: 6 measurements
Recorded as a finding: No

Show what was measured

serum magnesium concentration
increases, p = 0.001
weighted mean difference=0.45 mmol/L [1.1 mg/dL]; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.30 to 0.59 mmol/L [0.7 to 1.4 mg/dL]; P <0.001
PMID:15336582 · one of two readings recorded this
serum magnesium concentration
no effect
No differences between AD and controls were evident for serum Mg.
PMID:26351088 · one of two readings recorded this
serum magnesium concentration
increases, increased (p = 0.03), p = 0.03
Not recorded as a finding: agentless sentence does not name cholecalciferol as the agent, and the study has no control arm -- a within-arm change only
Magnesium levels increased during the study (p = 0.03).
PMID:35262225 · one of two readings recorded this
serum magnesium concentration
increases, 2.027 ± 0.4182 to 2.181 ± 0.182, p = 0.004, n = 75
As it is the measurement of the magnesium levels, the difference is the most significant in the T2 group showing before and after intervention mean values of 2.027 ± 0.4182 and 2.181 ± 0.182, respectively (p = 0.004).
PMID:39410716 · one of two readings recorded this
serum magnesium concentration
increases, WMD 0.69, 95% CI 0.32 to 1.06
The analysis indicated that Mg supplementation led to a significant increase in serum Mg concentrations (WMD = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.32 to 1.06; P < 0.01).
PMID:40641714 · one of two readings recorded this
Serum magnesium concentration
unclear, increased from 0.74 to 0.78 mmol/L in magnesium group vs stable ~0.81 mmol/L in placebo, p = 0.073
The difference in change was just short of statistical significance (P = 0.073).
PMID:41903889 · one of two readings recorded this

Sources cited

5 papers

Subject: serum magnesium concentration
Findings: 5
Papers: 5

Compound

Direction

Findings

Strongest evidence

magnesium(2+)

up 4 · no effect 1

How it is measured

Measured, not recorded

Subject

serum magnesium concentration

Measurements

6 measurements

Recorded as a finding

Show what was measured

serum magnesium concentration
increases, p = 0.001
weighted mean difference=0.45 mmol/L [1.1 mg/dL]; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.30 to 0.59 mmol/L [0.7 to 1.4 mg/dL]; P <0.001
PMID:15336582 · one of two readings recorded this
serum magnesium concentration
no effect
No differences between AD and controls were evident for serum Mg.
PMID:26351088 · one of two readings recorded this
serum magnesium concentration
increases, increased (p = 0.03), p = 0.03
Not recorded as a finding: agentless sentence does not name cholecalciferol as the agent, and the study has no control arm -- a within-arm change only
Magnesium levels increased during the study (p = 0.03).
PMID:35262225 · one of two readings recorded this
serum magnesium concentration
increases, 2.027 ± 0.4182 to 2.181 ± 0.182, p = 0.004, n = 75
As it is the measurement of the magnesium levels, the difference is the most significant in the T2 group showing before and after intervention mean values of 2.027 ± 0.4182 and 2.181 ± 0.182, respectively (p = 0.004).
PMID:39410716 · one of two readings recorded this
serum magnesium concentration
increases, WMD 0.69, 95% CI 0.32 to 1.06
The analysis indicated that Mg supplementation led to a significant increase in serum Mg concentrations (WMD = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.32 to 1.06; P < 0.01).
PMID:40641714 · one of two readings recorded this
Serum magnesium concentration
unclear, increased from 0.74 to 0.78 mmol/L in magnesium group vs stable ~0.81 mmol/L in placebo, p = 0.073
The difference in change was just short of statistical significance (P = 0.073).
PMID:41903889 · one of two readings recorded this