Magnesium and Its Interdependency with Other Cations in Acute and Chronic Stressor States

Mg2+ and Ca2+ are major divalent intracellular cations. Mg2+ is integral to a myriad of enzymatic reactions and physiologic responses, especially in tissues such as the heart, where metabolic activity and ATP consumption are high [1]. In addition, there are intricate interdependencies between Mg2+ and Ca2+ and other cations. Numerous examples of the interplay that exists between Mg2+, Ca2+, and K+ have been well recognized. Herein, we focus specifically on several inseparable interconnections involving Mg2+ and those cations which are clinically relevant to the heart during acute and chronic stressor states, wherein neurohormonal activation involving the adrenergic and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone systems unmasks their interdependency.