Why might serum magnesium tests appear normal even when deep tissue stores are suffering?

Answer

Only about 1% of total magnesium is maintained in the blood, meaning serum tests frequently fail to reflect the significantly lower levels present in deep tissues.

Magnesium distribution within the body is highly skewed; the vast majority of the body's total magnesium is stored in tissues such as bone and muscle, not circulating freely in the blood plasma. Specifically, only approximately 1% of the total supply resides in the blood. Consequently, the body prioritizes maintaining this small circulating pool even when tissue reserves are becoming substantially depleted due to ongoing loss or poor intake. This physiological management means that a standard blood test, which measures serum levels, can yield a normal result, thus masking a serious, underlying deficiency in the deeper, functionally critical tissue compartments.

Why might serum magnesium tests appear normal even when deep tissue stores are suffering?

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