Magnesium is required as a catalyst for many intracellular enzymatic reactions related to carbohydrate metabolism. Increased extracellular magnesium depresses nervous system activity and muscle contraction, while low magnesium causes increased irritability, vasodilation, and cardiac arrhythmias. Calcium is mainly stored in bone and excess extracellular calcium can cause heart to stop or act as a depressant, while low calcium causes nerve fiber discharge and tetany. Phosphate is a major intracellular fluid anion that reversibly combines with coenzymes and compounds necessary for metabolic processes, including ATP and phosphocreatine. Bone also contains large amounts of calcium phosphate. Iron is essential for oxygen transport via hemoglobin and cellular oxidation through cyto