Abstract

“HYPOMAGNESEMIA IN ALCOHOL DEPENDENT POPULATION FROM THE LOWER SOCIO-ECONOMIC BACKGROUND WHO WERE CONSUMING ILLICIT LIQUOR AND ATTENDING THE DEADDICTION CENTER”

Sameer R Kulkarni* and K.Pratibha Ravindra

Abstract

Background: Magnesium is intimately involved in over 300 enzymatic reactions, particularly in processes involving the formation and utilization of ATP. It is also a known fact that alcoholism is associated with hypomagnesemia. The present study aims to determine the significance of routine serum magnesium determination in alcoholic patients consuming illicit liquor from lower socio-economic background attending deaddiction centre. Patients and Methods: We determined serum magnesium, sodium and potassium concentrations in 200 chronic alcoholic patients consuming illicit liquor from lower socio-economic background admitted to the deaddiction centre, and compared the results to those of 158 healthy nonalcoholic controls. Results: Serum magnesium levels were significantly decreased in alcoholic patients compared to healthy nonalcoholic controls. There were also increased activities of SGOT, SGPT and gamma-glutamyl transferase in alcoholics. Conclusions: The results of our study showed hypomagnesemia in chronic alcoholic subjects. Hypomagnesemia may be due to the increased oxidative stress and might be a risk factor in the progression of fatty liver to steatohepatitis. The results of the present investigation support the practice of routine magnesium administration to chronic alcoholics.

Keywords: Hypomagnesemia, Alcohol, Illicit Liquor.