Magnesium chloride taken as a folk remedy and a fatal case
What it found
A 75-year-old woman died after drinking milk mixed with magnesium chloride used as a folk remedy.
Her blood magnesium level was much higher than normal.
What they found
Studies in people
Death linked to high magnesium
The woman's blood magnesium level after death was 10.2 mg/dL. This was higher than levels reported in earlier cases. The doctors concluded that too much magnesium in her blood caused her death.
No other cause found
The autopsy showed no injury or illness that could explain her death. Tests also found no alcohol or controlled drugs in her body.
What the authors conclude
- They note that many medicines and health foods containing magnesium are used as supplements worldwide.
- They advise that people should be aware of the potential harm these products can cause.
How it was done
People around the world take medicines and health foods that contain magnesium as supplements. The authors wanted to highlight the possible harm from these products.
Doctors examined a 75-year-old woman who died after drinking milk mixed with magnesium chloride. They performed an autopsy and tested her blood for drugs, alcohol, and magnesium levels.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- This is a single case report about one person.
- It cannot show how often this happens or what amount might affect others.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- Hiroshima University, Japan
The paper
- Title
- A fatal case of hypermagnesemia caused by ingesting magnesium chloride as a folk remedy
- Type
- Case report
- Evidence
- Studies in people
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Torikoshi-Hatano A, Namera A, Shiraishi H, Maeno Y, Kato H, Nagao M (2013). A fatal case of hypermagnesemia caused by ingesting magnesium chloride as a folk remedy. Journal of forensic sciences. doi:10.1111/1556-4029.12266PubMed 24020515DOI
Summary written 1 Oct 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error