title: Serum magnesium concentration in drug-addicted patients.
abstract: Drug addiction is a complex problem which leads to many somatic, psychic and social diseases. It is accompanied by the disturbed metabolism of various macro and micronutrients. The aim of this study was to assess serum magnesium concentration in drug-addicted patients and analyze whether Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection and methadone treatment affect the level of serum magnesium in these patients. The examination was conducted in a group of 83 people - patients of Szczecin-Zdroje Psychiatric Hospital (Poland). They were 21 to 49 years old, and the mean age was 32 +/- 7 years. The control group consisted of 81 healthy individuals. Flame atomic-absorption spectrometry method was used to determine the magnesium concentration. The total serum magnesium concentration was calculated for the whole patient group, subgroups of women and men, a subgroup of people infected with HIV, and a subgroup receiving methadone substitution treatment. How magnesium behaves depending on age and addiction period, was checked. The mean concentration of magnesium in blood serum of the patients examined was 0.57 mmol/L, which was significantly lower than in the control group. In the subgroup of men it was 0.57 mmol/L, and in the subgroup of women - 0.55 mmol/L; the differences were not statistically significant. In the patient group nobody had the appropriate magnesium concentration in blood serum. No significant correlation was found between the magnesium concentration, age of the patients and addiction period. In the subgroup of seropositive people the mean concentration of magnesium was 0.55 mmol/L, and in the subgroup of non-infected patients - 0.58 mmol/L; the difference was not statistically significant. The mean concentration of magnesium in the subgroup treated with methadone was 0.59 mmol/L, and in the subgroup not involved in this type of therapy - 0.55 mmol/L; it was not a statistically significant difference.
authors.affiliation: Pomeranian Medical University, Independent Laboratory of Family Nursing, 48 Zołnierska Street, 71-210 Szczecin, Poland. karabea@sci.pam.szczecin.pl
authors.forename: Beata
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Karakiewicz
authors.forename: Tadeusz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kozielec
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brodowski
authors.forename: Dariusz
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chlubek
authors.forename: Iwona
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Noceń
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Starczewski
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brodowska
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Laszczyńska
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008274:Magnesium / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000494:pharmacology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011044:Poland; D012016:Reference Values; D044967:Serum / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D008274:Magnesium; D008691:Methadone