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Magnesium Research

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The permeability of magnesium across the skin is enhanced by menthol cream Volume 32, issue 4, October-November-December 2019

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  • Figure 1
Authors
1 School of Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Yliopistonranta 1, PO Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland
2 School of Pharmacy, University of Eastern Finland, Yliopistonranta 1, PO Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland
3 Fysioline Oy, Arvionkatu 2, FI-33840 Tampere, Finland
4 Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
* Corresponding author: Hannu Kokki, MD, PhD School of Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland

Magnesium (Mg++) contributes to several normal physiological functions. Some topical Mg++ products are marketed for Mg++ deficiency, but the rate and extent of topical Mg++ absorption are not known. Our aim was to compare the permeation of Mg++ across porcine skin from 1 % (m/m) Mg++ creams with and without levomenthol. Permeability studies were performed with the Franz cell model, and the Mg++ concentrations were quantified with inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. The flux of Mg++ across porcine skin was higher with levomenthol-based cream, for a median value of 29.7 μg/cm2/32 hr, than that from the cream without menthol, which was 6.2 μg/cm2/32 hr. The median apparent permeability (Papp) value was 2.6·10−8 cm/sec (range 0.44 - 8.1) from levomenthol-based cream and 0.9·10−8 cm/sec (range 0.1 - 3.8) from the cream without menthol. This study confirmed that Mg++ can permeate through porcine skin and that coadministration with levomenthol substantially enhanced the permeability.