According to a new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine routine magnesium supplementation does not result in lower rates of tachyarrhythmias, hypotension, or death in critically ill patients with magnesium levels near current treatment cutoffs. Magnesium is commonly administered to intensive care unit (ICU) patients with serum levels below institutional reference ranges, primarily to prevent arrhythmias, such as atrial fibrillation. The study was conducted by Robert G. and colleagues.

Hypomagnesemia is common in critically ill patients and until recently magnesium supplementation was considered to be a low-risk intervention with potential cardiovascular benefit. Many institutions commonly give magnesium when serum levels drop below predefined cutoffs, which are usually between 1.6

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