A Randomized Trial of Magnesium Oxide and Oral Carbon Adsorbent for Coronary Artery Calcification in Predialysis CKD.

Background: Developing strategies for managing coronary artery calcification (CAC) in patients with CKD is an important clinical challenge. Experimental studies have demonstrated that magnesium inhibits vascular calcification, whereas the uremic toxin indoxyl sulfate aggravates it.

Methods: To assess the efficacy of magnesium oxide (MgO) and/or the oral carbon adsorbent AST-120 for slowing CAC progression in CKD, we conducted a 2-year, open-label, randomized, controlled trial, enrolling patients with stage 3-4 CKD with risk factors for CAC (diabetes mellitus, history of cardiovascular disease, high LDL cholesterol, or smoking).

Proteinuria-associated renal magnesium wasting leads to hypomagnesemia: a common electrolyte abnormality in chronic kidney disease.

Background: Hypomagnesemia (Hypo-Mg) predicts mortality and chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression. However, in CKD, its prevalence, kidney-intrinsic risk factors, and the effectiveness of oral magnesium (Mg) therapy on serum Mg levels is uncertain.

Methods: In a cross-sectional study enrolling pre-dialysis outpatients with CKD, the prevalence of electrolyte abnormalities (Mg, sodium, potassium, calcium and phosphorus) was compared.