ABSTRACT
Calcium and magnesium are the major divalent cations in the body. The two elements are chemically related, both being classified as alkaline earths in group 2 (lla) in the periodic table and occupying adjacent periods. Both ions are of importance for skeletal and muscular integrity, with calcium being the most important structural mineral in the body. Although these structural roles are critical, it is the metabolic and regulatory functions of these two substances that have attracted most recent attention. Both ions also have the potential to be used as pharmacologic agents for various therapeutic purposes.
