Relation between potassium, magnesium and cardiac arrhythmias.
Magnesium may influence the incidence of cardiac arrhythmias by 1) a direct effect 2) an effect on potassium metabolism 3) an effect as a calcium blocking agent. In the event of a magnesium deficiency the cell cannot attract potassium against the transmembrane concentration gradient. The reason may be that a magnesium deficiency interferes with the function of membrane ATPase, and thus the pumping of sodium out from the cell and potassium into the cell is impaired. The interference from a magnesium deficiency on the equilibrium of potassium between the intra- and extracellular spaces may result in changes in the resting membrane potential, changes in potassium conductance across the cell membrane as well as disturbances in the repolarization phase.
D000368:Aged; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006352:Heart Ventricles; D006801:Humans; D007008:Hypokalemia / Q000150:complications; D008274:Magnesium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009132:Muscles / Q000378:metabolism; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology
D008274:Magnesium; D011188:Potassium