Table 2 Comparison of serum lactate parameters by serum magnesium levels from ICU admission to day 5

ICU admission

N = 105

N = 558

N = 96

 Lactate level, mmol/L

3.9 (2.2–6.1)

2.1 (1.3–3.3) **

2.1 (1.4–3.6) **

 < 0.001

 Lactic acidosis n (%)

84 (70)

288 (51.6) **

48 (50) **

 < 0.001

 Severe lactic acidosis n (%)

48 (45.7)

103 (18.5) **

23 (24) **

 < 0.001

Day 2

N = 105

N = 553

N = 65

 Lactate level, mmol/L

2.3 (1.5–3.6)

1.4 (1.0–2.2) **

1.6 (1.2–2.1) **

 < 0.001

 Lactic acidosis n (%)

61 (58.1)

152 (27.5) **

16 (24.6) **

 < 0.001

 Severe lactic acidosis n (%)

21 (20)

42 (7.6) **

4 (6.2) *

 < 0.001

Day 3

N = 63

N = 560

N = 56

 Lactate level, mmol/L

1.8 (1.2–2.3)

1.3 (1.0–1.9) **

1.5 (1.1–1.9)

0.001

 Lactic acidosis n (%)

22 (34.9)

109 (19.5) *

9 (16.1)

0.011

 Severe lactic acidosis n (%)

8 (12.7)

20 (3.6) **

0 (0) *

 < 0.001

Day 4

N = 42

N = 516

N = 50

 Lactate level, mmol/L

1.6 (1.1–2.3)

1.3 (1.0–1.7) *

1.3 (1.0–1.7)

0.019

 Lactic acidosis n (%)

13 (31.0)

84 (16.3)

4 (8.0) *

0.011

 Severe lactic acidosis n (%)

5 (11.9)

11 (2.1) **

0 (0)

 < 0.001

Day 5

N = 30

N = 472

N = 42

 Lactate level, mmol/L

1.8 (1.3–2.2)

1.3 (1.0–1.7) *

1.4 (1.0–1.9)

0.004

 Lactic acidosis n (%)

11 (36.7)

70 (14.8) *

6 (14.3)

0.006

 Severe lactic acidosis n (%)

2 (6.7)

8 (1.7)

0 (0)

0.13