Iranian Heart Journal

Iranian Heart Journal

Serum Magnesium Level and Severity of Coronary Artery Disease

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Mohammad Erfani 1 ΒΆ
Mansour Moazzenzadeh 2
Hamidreza Rashidinejad 2
1 Department of Cardiology, School of Medicine Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, IR Iran.
2 Cardiovascular Research Center, Institute of Basic and Clinical Physiology Sciences, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, IR Iran.
Abstract
Objectives: In the present study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between serum magnesium level and the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) and to determine whether lower magnesium levels are associated with more advanced coronary artery stenosis based on angiography and SYNTAX scoring.

Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 203 patients who underwent elective coronary angiography at Shafa Hospital in Kerman, Iran, between 2023 and 2024. An initial stratification divided the patients into 2 groups based on angiographic evidence: normal angiography and coronary artery occlusion. The patients with blockages were further divided into nonsevere and severe CAD groups using the SYNTAX score. Serum magnesium level was measured before angiography. Researchers also recorded demographic and clinical data. Serum magnesium levels were assessed for normality using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, and the Kruskal-Wallis test was used for group comparisons.

Results: The mean serum magnesium level was 2.52 (SD, 0.21) mg/dL in the normal group, 2.34 (SD, 0.27) mg/dL in the nonsevere CAD group, and 1.89 (SD, 0.25) mg/dL in the severe CAD group. There was a strong inverse relationship between magnesium levels and CAD severity (P < .001).

Conclusions: Lower serum magnesium levels were significantly associated with greater severity of CAD. These findings highlight a potential association between serum magnesium status and the extent of CAD. Still, further prospective studies are needed to clarify the clinical significance of this relationship. (Iranian Heart Journal 2026; 27(4): 73-79)
Keywords
coronary artery disease
SYNTAX scoring
magnesium
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Iranian Heart Journal
Volume 27, Issue 4
Autumn 2026
Pages 73-79