International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI) | Volume IX, Issue VIII, August 2022 | ISSN 2321–2705
Mairiga, J.P.*, Ambi J.L., Haruna, S
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Nasarawa State University, Nigeria
Abstract: Diabetes and hypertension are diseases that affect people all over the world. This study was carried out at the Department of Medical Out-Patient of Federal Medical Centre, Keffi. It was aimed at assessing the Magnesium (Mg) and Potassium (K) levels in the blood of diabetics and hypertensive patients respectively. Magnesium and Potassium were determined using test kits produced by Teco diagnostics (USA). Blood samples were collected by venous puncture from one hundred and twenty (120) patients evenly distributed among Diabetic and hypertensive patients on gender basis. The result showed a low level of magnesium in diabetic patients in a range of 0.40-0.00mmol/l to the expected magnesium concentration range of 1.3-2.5mmol/l. The potassium level in hypertensive was within the normal range of 3.25- 1.55mmol/l compared to the expected concentration range (3.40-5.30mmol/l). This study showed high level of deficiency of magnesium in diabetics but normal level of potassium in hypertensive individuals. Though, further studies using larger sample size is advocated to substantiate these findings, magnesium potassium aspartate should be included in the supplements or fortified foods from time to time to increase the amount of magnesium and potassium intake of patients. Importantly, Health care providers should consider monitoring serum magnesium levels periodically in patients especially the elderly to provide medical assistance where necessary.
Key words: Diabetic, hypertensive, serum concentration, magnesium, potassium
I. INTRODUCTION
Statistical evaluation on diabetes mellitus and hypertension worldwide continue to soar high up to what could be termed as an epidemic situation. It is fair to say that they are part of the most common chronic diseases around the globe as they are usually accompanied with health complications (WHO, 2017).
Diabetes mellitus is a disease of abnormality in glucose metabolism involving the destruction of alpha and beta cells of the pancreas resulting to the type 1 and 2 respectively. It is a chronic metabolic disease that is characterized by elevated levels of blood glucose, which can result in damage to the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys and nerves. The danger is that diabetes mellitus can progress to life-threatening complications (Sunday et al., 2022).