Magnesium deficiency has been implicated in the development of
atherosclerosis and late
diabetic complications,
diseases often associated with increased
oxidative stress. Present study was carried out to examine the effect of
magnesium deficiency on
oxidative stress and total radical
trapping antioxidant parameter (calculated) in
rats and correlate it with the development of
free radical mediated
diseases.
Male Wistar rats were divided into two groups and pair fed for six weeks with low
magnesium diet (70 mg/kg) and control
diet (990 mg/kg) prepared synthetically.
Deionized water was given ad libitum. Low
magnesium diet caused a significant decrease in
plasma and
red blood cell magnesium levels. A marked increase in
plasma malondialdehyde and corresponding decrease in total radical
trapping antioxidant parameters (calculated) were observed in the low
magnesium diet group than
control group. The level of
plasma glucose increased moderately in the low
magnesium diet group.
Hypertriglyceridemia and significantly decreased
plasma HDL (
high density lipoprotein)-
cholesterol levels were observed in the low
magnesium diet group. The results clearly demonstrate that
magnesium deficiency is associated with increased
oxidative stress through reduction in
plasma antioxidants and increased
lipid peroxidation suggesting that the increased
oxidative stress may be due to increased susceptibility of body organs to
free radical injury.