Magnesium disorders in horses.
Abstract: Magnesium (Mg) is an essential macroelement that is required for cellular energy-dependent reactions involving adenosine triphosphate and for the regulation of calcium channel function. Subclinical hypomagnesemia is common in critically ill humans and animals and increases the severity of the systemic inflammatory response syndrome; worsens the systemic response to endotoxins; and can lead to ileus, cardiac arrhythmias, refractory hypokalemia, and hypocalcemia. This article discusses the clinical signs, consequences, and treatment of hypomagnesemia in horses and describes the association of Mg and endotoxemia, insulin resistance, and brain injury.
Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2011-03-12 PubMed ID: 21392659DOI: 10.1016/j.cveq.2010.12.009Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research article discusses the role of magnesium in horses, the effects of magnesium deficiency, and its association with other health issues like endotoxemia, insulin resistance, and brain injury.
Magnesium’s Role in Horses
The researchers first describe the importance of magnesium (Mg), a vital macroelement, for achieving cellular energy-dependent reactions in horses. It serves two key functions:
Magnesium Deficiency (Hypomagnesemia)
The authors highlight that horses, like humans and other animals, can suffer from subclinical hypomagnesemia, a condition of magnesium deficiency that:
Consequences of Hypomagnesemia
Further, they discuss the potential consequences of hypomagnesemia in horses:
Association of Magnesium with Other Health Issues
In the last section of their research, they link magnesium with other health problems in horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Stewart AJ.
(2011).
Magnesium disorders in horses.
Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract, 27(1), 149-163.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cveq.2010.12.009 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Science, John Thomas Vaughan Large Animal Teaching Hospital, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, 1500 Wire Road, Auburn, AL 36849, USA. stewaaj@auburn.edu
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Calcium / blood
- Endotoxemia / veterinary
- Female
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / drug therapy
- Horse Diseases / metabolism
- Horses
- Insulin Resistance
- Magnesium / administration & dosage
- Magnesium / metabolism
- Magnesium / therapeutic use
- Magnesium Deficiency / diagnosis
- Magnesium Deficiency / drug therapy
- Magnesium Deficiency / metabolism
- Magnesium Deficiency / veterinary
- Male
- Nutritional Requirements
- Parathyroid Hormone / blood
Citations
This article has been cited 7 times.- Melo UP, Palhares MS, Ferreira C, Leme FOP, Gheller VA. Effects of total parenteral nutrition associated with glutamine, enteral fluid therapy with or without glutamine, and fluid therapy on the acid-base and electrolyte balance of horses starved after exploratory laparotomy. Braz J Vet Med 2022;44:e003222.
- Sanmartí J, Armengou L, Troya-Portillo L, Robles-Guirado JÁ, Bassols A, Ríos J, Jose-Cunilleras E. Plasma-Ionized Magnesium in Hospitalized Horses with Gastrointestinal Disorders and Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome. Animals (Basel) 2022 Jun 7;12(12).
- Sheldon SA, Aleman M, Costa LRR, Weich K, Howey Q, Madigan JE. Effects of magnesium with or without boron on headshaking behavior in horses with trigeminal-mediated headshaking. J Vet Intern Med 2019 May;33(3):1464-1472.
- Sheldon SA, Aleman M, Costa LRR, Santoyo AC, Howey Q, Madigan JE. Intravenous infusion of magnesium sulfate and its effect on horses with trigeminal-mediated headshaking. J Vet Intern Med 2019 Mar;33(2):923-932.
- Sheldon S, Aleman M, Costa L, Santoyo AC, Howey Q, Madigan J. Alterations in Metabolic Status and Headshaking Behavior Following Intravenous Administration of Hypertonic Solutions in Horses with Trigeminal-Mediated Headshaking. Animals (Basel) 2018 Jun 25;8(7).
- Husulak ML, Lohmann KL, Gabadage K, Wojnarowicz C, Marqués FJ. Equine motor neuron disease in 2 horses from Saskatchewan. Can Vet J 2016 Jul;57(7):771-6.
- Fantuz F, Todini L, Salimei E, Fatica A, Mariani P, Marcantoni F, Ferraro S. Milk Yield, Major Milk Components and Macro Minerals in Blood Serum of Lactating Donkeys, as Affected by Dietary Trace Element Supplementation and Stage of Lactation. Animals (Basel) 2025 Apr 8;15(8).
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