Magnesium and traumatic brain injury

Abstract

Magnesium is one of the most important ions in the body and is present in high concentrations within all cells. It is indispensable in terms of maintenance and regulation of general cellular metabolism and function due to the central roles it plays in nearly every aspect of cell function, including energy metabolism and maintenance of ionic gradients. Given that magnesium is so essential for normal cellular function, disruption of magnesium homeostasis has deleterious consequences. Indeed, the detrimental effects of the disruption of magnesium homeostasis are clearly observed following trauma to the CNS, leading to serious biochemical changes. Accordingly, the aim of this chapter is to review both the role of magnesium in secondary injury following traumatic brain injury (TBI) and also the efficacy of the experimental and clinical administration of magnesium as a novel therapeutic for the treatment of TBI.