Fatal Hypermagnesemia in a Child Treated With Megavitamin/Megamineral Therapy

Abstract

ABSTRACT. We report a case of fatal hypermagnesemia resulting from the unsupervised use of high doses of magnesium oxide administered as part of a regimen of megavitamin and megamineral therapy to a child with mental retardation, spastic quadriplegia, and seizures. The treatment regimen was given at the recommendation of a dietician working as a private nutritional consultant without the involvement or notification of the child's pediatrician. Hypermagnesemia is an uncommon but serious side effect of the use of magnesium containing compounds. These compounds are widely used as laxatives and dietary supplements, and serious side effects are uncommon when used in appropriate dosages and with adequate supervision.The use of alternative medical therapies, including megavitamin/megamineral therapy, is widespread. Many patients use alternative medicine or seek care from alternative medicine practitioners without the recommendation or knowledge of their primary physicians. Despite unproved benefit, many alternative therapies may be safe. However, unsupervised use of generally safe treatments can result in serious side effects. This case report serves to illustrate the characteristic pathophysiologic changes of severe hypermagnesemia, an entity rarely seen in pediatric practice, and more importantly, it alerts primary care and subspecialty pediatricians to be aware of and monitor the use of alternative medical therapies in their patients. Pediatrics 2000;105(2). URL: http://www. pediatrics.org/cgi/content/full/105/2/e18; magnesium, alternative medicine, toxicity.

Comparison of complementary and alternative medicine use: reasons and motivations between two tertiary children's hospitals

“…The use of non-prescribed vitamins/minerals was included as they have been documented to cause adverse events or interactions, and were taken with therapeutic intent. 16 Inter-interviewer agreement within each study was performed. Calibration between the two research groups occurred prior to the Welsh study to ensure comparable techniques.…”

Serum Magnesium Levels in Pediatric Inpatients: A Study in Laboratory Overuse

“…The only pediatric case reports of lifethreatening hypermagnesemia have been in patients receiving excessive doses of Mg supplements [21][22][23][24] or with late-stage chronic kidney disease. 25 Based on our data and literature review, the yield of Mg levels in patients taking oral Mg supplements seems low outside of the 4 major diagnosis categories (oncologic, short bowel, solid organ transplant, and abdominal surgery requiring TPN).…”

Fatal Hypermagnesemia Caused by an Epsom Salt Enema: A Case Illustration

“…However, there are times when caution should be taken, and cases exist in the literature which highlight the potential danger of magnesium-containing products. [2,[14][15][16][17][18][19] Oral magnesium has also been used in the past as a cathartic agent in conjunction with oral activated charcoal for poisonings and overdoses. There have been numerous reports of fatal and near-fatal cases involving hypermagnesemia either in patients receiving magnesium with unrecognized renal failure or in patients with normal renal function who received charcoal and magnesium for treatment of an overdose.…”