Preventive effects of magnesium on raised serum lipid peroxide levels and aortic cholesterol deposition in mice fed an atherogenic diet.
We examined the effects of various levels of magnesium intake on serum lipid levels and aortic cholesterol deposition in mice fed for 14 weeks on an atherogenic diet containing 10 per cent linoleic acid. During that time, the mice were given MgCl2.6H2O in drinking water at magnesium doses of 10, 50, 100, or 200 mg/kg/d. A magnesium dose of 50 mg/kg/d is approximately equivalent to the amount consumed in the normal daily diet. Throughout the experimental period, levels of both serum total cholesterol and lipid peroxides decreased relative to increases in the dose of magnesium, while levels of serum phospholipid, triglyceride, and high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol were unaffected. Levels of aortic cholesterol, particularly cholesteryl ester, decreased as the dose of magnesium increased. These findings indicate that adequate magnesium intake prevents cholesterol deposition in the aortas of mice fed an atherogenic diet, and that this was due to the inhibitory effect of magnesium on lipid peroxidation and its hypocholesterolaemic effect, suggesting in turn, that the antioxidative action of this element plays an important role in creating a defence against the development of atherosclerosis.
Yamaguchi
Y
Y
Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mukogawa Women's University, Nishinomiya, Japan.
Kitagawa
S
S
Kunitomo
M
M
Fujiwara
M
M
D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D004036:Diet, Atherogenic; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008054:Lipid Peroxides / Q000097:blood*; D015636:Magnesium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000097:blood*; D013997:Time Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid
D008054:Lipid Peroxides; D010743:Phospholipids; D014280:Triglycerides; D015636:Magnesium Chloride; D017962:alpha-Linolenic Acid; D002784:Cholesterol