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Can MgCl2 Be Absorbed Transdermally To Increase Blood Serum Levels?

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Posted on Tue, 25 Aug 2015
Question: Can MgCl2 be absorbed transdermally to increase blood serum levels of Mg?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Indranil Ghosh (22 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
nor really

Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for your query.

Transdermal route is not an accepted method of correcting magnesium deficiency. It seems promising but scientific studies are lacking. It is promoted by some alternative medicine groups but its efficacy is unproven.

I would not recommend it for any patient.

Hope this helps. I will be available for follow up.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Indranil Ghosh (14 hours later)
Thank you Dr XXXXXXX for your reply.

In Australia many companies promote Transdermal magnesium chloride supplementation. I can only find two published papers ( PubMed) that have looked at transdermal absorption.

Views from HealthCareMagic specialists do seem to vary on this subject.

Some say 'yes, MgCl2 can be absorbed transdermally' while others think it only had placebo effects.

How could a clinical trial be designed to test this?
Blood tests apparently only show 1% Mg in the whole body. Would urine excretion tests indicate transdermal absorption?

Mg is obviously an essential mineral.
MgCl2 is readily available .
The oral route has some concerns with the gut and liver.
Transdermal absorption offers a potential path for Mg supplementation.

Do you have any suggestions on how to design a clinical double blind test?

Thank you for considering my question

Best wishes

XXXX
doctor
Answered by Dr. Indranil Ghosh (5 hours later)
Brief Answer:
urine will not help

Detailed Answer:
Blood tests show good reliability of magnesium absorption, as the element has to go to the blood and then to other tissues. Urine excretion test will not help as it depends on kidney pumping. Some patients with renal damage will pump more despite low Mg in body so it would be false.

Another way is to measure tissue stores by testing from hair, skin or nail but that is also experimental at this point.
Note: Do you have more questions on diagnosis or treatment of blood disorders? Ask An Expert/ Specialist Now

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Indranil Ghosh

Oncologist

Practicing since :2004

Answered : 1712 Questions

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Can MgCl2 Be Absorbed Transdermally To Increase Blood Serum Levels?

Brief Answer: nor really Detailed Answer: Hi Thanks for your query. Transdermal route is not an accepted method of correcting magnesium deficiency. It seems promising but scientific studies are lacking. It is promoted by some alternative medicine groups but its efficacy is unproven. I would not recommend it for any patient. Hope this helps. I will be available for follow up. Regards