Skeletal muscle phosphorus and magnesium deficiency in alcoholic myopathy

Skeletal muscle composition was examined in 13 patients with acute alcoholic myopathy. Although low total phosphorus content was the most prominent finding, magnesium was also depressed. Muscle contents of calcium, sodium and chloride were abnormally increased. Hypophosphatemia, hypomagnesemia, hypokalemia and hypocalcemia were common but bore little, if any, relationship to corresponding values in skeletal muscle.