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Magnesium Deficiency in the Rat Increases Tissue Levels of Docosahexaenoic Acid

Efamol Research Institute, Kentville, Nova Scotia, Canada B4N 4H8

The effects of magnesium deficiency on tissue levels of total lipids and fatty acids were evaluated. Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a magnesium-deficlent diet for 14 wk with controls being pair-fed to the deficient rats. Compared to the controls, serum and 24-h urinary magnesium levels were markedly lower in the magnesium-deficient rats. Serum cholesterol and total phospholipids were significantly higher in the magnesium-deficient rats than in the controls. Edema and polycystic degeneration of the kidneys were present in the magnesium-deficient rats. Kidney total phospholipids and triacylglycerols were significantly lower in the magnesiumdeficient rats than in the controls. The main change in tissue fatty acid composition in magnesium deficiency was the higher docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3) in serum, liver and aorta than in controls. The possible relationship of these findings to human alcoholism is discussed.

KEY WORDS: • magnesium • arachidonic acid • linoleic acid • docosahexaenoic acid • phospholipids • cholesterol • triglyceride • kidney

¹ Industrial Research Fellow of the National Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada.

Manuscript received 16 April 1985. Revision accepted 5 August 1985.