Renal excretion of magnesium and calcium in diabetes mellitus.

Renal excretion of magnesium and calcium was investigated in a group of Nigerian diabetic patients. Urinary excretion rates, clearances and excretion fractions of magnesium and calcium were significantly increased in the diabetic group compared with controls. Urinary excretion rate of sodium was also significantly increased in the diabetics. Furthermore, significant positive correlations were observed between magnesium and calcium with respect to their urinary excretion rates, clearances and excretion fractions in the diabetic patients. The results of this study suggest that the renal tubular reabsorption of magnesium and calcium is reduced in diabetic patients resulting in increased urinary losses of the two divalent cations. Moreover, the renal excretion of magnesium remains intimately related to that of calcium in the diabetic state.