Response of Bone Metabolism Markers to Ice Swimming in Regular Practitioners

Objective: Both exercise and cold exposure cause physiological stress and they often occur in combination. However, the effects of exercise during severe cold on variation in bone metabolism in humans have remained elusive. The aim of this study was to investigate the variations in circulating bone metabolism markers after ice swimming (IS).Methods: Eighty-seven women and men aged 42–84 years old were recruited to perform regular IS activities. Serum parathyroid hormone (PTH), total calcium (Ca2+), total phosphorus (Pi), total magnesium (Mg2+), N-terminal osteocalcin (N-MID), total propeptide of procollagen 1 (TPINP), and C-terminal telopeptide of type 1 collagen (β-CTX) were measured 30 min before and 30 min after IS. Bone mineral content (BMC) and bone mineral density (BMD) were assessed at lumbar spine 1–4 (L1–L4) and femoral neck (FN). The IS habits were obtained from questionnaires and the 10-year probability of osteoporotic fracture was calculated using the FRAX® tool with and without a BMD value of the FN.Results: There were significant increases in PTH (median, 40.120–51.540 pg/mL), Ca2+ (median, 2.330–2.400 mmol/L), and Pi (median, 1.100–1.340 mmol/L) and significant decreases in TPINP (median, 38.190–36.610 ng/mL) and β-CTX (median, 0.185–0.171 ng/mL), while there was a trend for increased serum Mg2+ (P = 0.058) but no significant change in N-MID (P = 0.933) after IS in all subjects. The increases in the proportions of cases of hyperparathyroidemia, hypercalcemia, and hyperphosphatemia in those performing IS were statistically significant. The baseline levels and the changes of bone metabolism markers had associations with osteoporosis and bone status, but these may be age and sex dependent. Finally, there were significant correlations among the bone metabolism markers.Conclusion: IS caused significant alterations in bone metabolic markers, specifically, increases in PTH, Ca2+ and Pi should raise concerns about potential cardiovascular health risks in severe cold exercise. Additionally, a divergence between PTH elevation and a decline in bone turnover, which shown a special change of bone metabolism after IS and may suggest potential therapeutic implications of cold exercise in PTH and bone metabolic disorders.

DARUL AMAN GROUNDWATER QUALITY ASSESSMENT OF AFGHANISTAN

Groundwater is the most important natural resource used for drinking by many people around the world, especially in arid and semi-arid areas. Groundwater is the major source of drinking water in rural as well as in urban areas and over 94% of the drinking water demand is met by groundwater. The study was carried out to assess the ground water quality and its suitability for drinking purpose in Darulaman, Kabul Afghanistan. For this purpose, four water samples collected from bore wells of villages of study area were analyzed for different chemical parameters such as pH,total, magnesium hardness, sodium, chloride, nitrate, fluoride, cyanide. The results of analysis carried out showed the following concentration ranges: pH value in this research found from (7.423 to 7.45, calcium hardness from (96.19 to 192.3) mg/L. Magnesium hardness varied from (40.2 to 90.14) mg/L and chloride from (0.02 to 17) mg/L. Values of nitrate concentration varied from (0.5 to 3.5) mg/L and fluoride from (0.22 to 0.41) mg/L., cyanide from ranges (0.002 to 0.007. The study reveals that almost all parameters were exceeding the permissible limits. As per the desirable and maximum permissible limit for fluoride, nitrate, total dissolved solids and chloride in drinking water, determined by WHO standards, groundwater sources are unfit for drinking purposes respectively. After evaluating the data of this study, it is concluded that drinking water of Darul Aman is not potable and there is an instant need to take ameliorative steps in this region to prevent the population from adverse health effects.

Association of Magnesium Intake with Liver Fibrosis among Adults in the United States

Liver fibrosis represents the consequences of chronic liver injury. Individuals with alcoholic or nonalcoholic liver diseases are at high risk of magnesium deficiency. This study aimed to evaluate the association between magnesium and calcium intakes and significant liver fibrosis, and whether the associations differ by alcohol drinking status. Based on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2017–2018, the study included 4166 participants aged >18 years who completed the transient elastography examination and had data available on magnesium intake. The median liver stiffness of 8.2 kPa was used to identify subjects with significant fibrosis (≥F2). The age-adjusted prevalence of significant fibrosis was 12.81%. Overall total magnesium intake was marginally associated with reduced odds of significant fibrosis (p trend = 0.14). The inverse association of total magnesium intake with significant fibrosis was primarily presented among those who had daily calcium intake <1200 mg. There were no clear associations for significant fibrosis with calcium intake. Findings suggest that high total magnesium alone may reduce risk of significant fibrosis. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings.

A New Flame AAS Application for Magnesium Determination in Solid Pharmaceutical Preparations as an Active Ingredient and an Excipient

Objective: A new application of Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) has been carried out to determine magnesium in its solid preparations (effervescent and uncoated compressed tablets) as an active ingredient and/or excipient. Methodology: The linear range of magnesium was determined. A sample of magnesium effervescent tablets was analyzed. Magnesium stearate concentration was also indirectly determined in commercial paracetamol tablets using two digestion methods. Finally, a sample of drug-free tablets (only contain excipients) was analyzed to study the effect of talc on total magnesium content of the sample. Results: Linear range was observed in concentrations between 0.08-0.40 ug/mL of magnesium. Effervescent tablets samples were recovered in the range between 98.66-103.00% which indicates that the product meets specifications. For paracetamol tablets, the content of magnesium stearate was in average of 0.2% and there is no differences between the two digestion methods (t=0.454). Our work on the drug-free sample proved a significant increase of magnesium concentrations in the presence of talc. Conclusion: The AAS method is a simple and rapid technique that can be employed for the simultaneous estimation of magnesium in in-process and final products analyses.

Ionized or Total Magnesium Levels, What Should We Measure?

Monitoring and measuring magnesium (Mg) values are essential to prevent the development of numerous complications in perioperative medicine and critically ill patients. Although previous studies suggest that measuring free ionized magnesium (iMg) is more useful for estimating Mg status, clinicians currently rely on measurement of total serum magnesium to determine if supplemental magnesium is needed. In this review, we analyzed the recent literature to decide whether it is better to measure ionized serum Mg or total serum Mg when assessing magnesium status, whether iMg predicts clinical outcome, and what are the difficulties in measuring serum iMg levels in intensive care patients and perioperative medicine.

Circulating Ionized Magnesium as a Measure of Supplement Bioavailability: Results from a Pilot Study for Randomized Clinical Trial

Oral supplementation may improve the dietary intake of magnesium, which has been identified as a shortfall nutrient. We conducted a pilot study to evaluate appropriate methods for assessing responses to the ingestion of oral magnesium supplements, including ionized magnesium in whole blood (iMg2+) concentration, serum total magnesium concentration, and total urinary magnesium content. In a single-blinded crossover study, 17 healthy adults were randomly assigned to consume 300 mg of magnesium from MgCl2 (ReMag®, a picosized magnesium formulation) or placebo, while having a low-magnesium breakfast. Blood and urine samples were obtained for the measurement of iMg2+, serum total magnesium, and total urine magnesium, during 24 h following the magnesium supplement or placebo dosing. Bioavailability was assessed using area-under-the-curve (AUC) as well as maximum (Cmax) and time-to-maximum (Tmax) concentration. Depending on normality, data were expressed as the mean ± standard deviation or median (range), and differences between responses to MgCl2 or placebo were measured using the paired t-test or Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Following MgCl2 administration versus placebo administration, we observed significantly greater increases in iMg2+ concentrations (AUC = 1.51 ± 0.96 vs. 0.84 ± 0.82 mg/dL•24h; Cmax = 1.38 ± 0.13 vs. 1.32 ± 0.07 mg/dL, respectively; both p < 0.05) but not in serum total magnesium (AUC = 27.00 [0, 172.93] vs. 14.55 [0, 91.18] mg/dL•24h; Cmax = 2.38 [1.97, 4.01] vs. 2.24 [1.98, 4.31] mg/dL) or in urinary magnesium (AUC = 201.74 ± 161.63 vs. 139.30 ± 92.84 mg•24h; Cmax = 26.12 [12.91, 88.63] vs. 24.38 [13.51, 81.51] mg/dL; p > 0.05). Whole blood iMg2+ may be a more sensitive measure of acute oral intake of magnesium compared to serum and urinary magnesium and may be preferred for assessing supplement bioavailability.

Effects of magnesite fertilization on soil properties and nutrition state of weakened Norway Spruce stands in the Śnieżnik Massif of Polish Eastern Sudety Mountains

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of fertilization with magnesite, 6 years after its application. The magnesite fertilizer was applied in amount of 2,000 kg·ha-1 in 2006. Fertilization covers the surface of 43 ha. Soil exploration in fertilized and unfertilized areas was carried out in August 2012. Needles and soil samples were collected for basic laboratory analysis. The effect of magnesite fertilization in soil was detected down to the B horizon. The principal excess of exchangeable magnesium (88%) was found in the surface organic horizon, while a substantial excess of total magnesium (57%) was detected in the top mineral horizon. The fertilization with magnesite caused the decreasing: acidity, ratio of calcium to magnesium in the absorption complex, supply of calcium in soil. Additionally, an increased magnesium supply in soil and its effect in the needles of the investigated spruce stands were noted. Research study confirm the usefulness of ground magnesite in elimination the deficit of magnesium in soils and needles of spruce stands in the Śnieżnik Massif for an extended period of time. Fertilization with magnesite at low doses may bring beneficial and quick effects to the health condition and productivity of spruce stands growing on soils well supplied with nitrogen. Keywords: spruce stands decline; soil properties; fertilization with magnesite, spruce nutrition status.