Effect of oral magnesium sulfate administration on blood pressure and lipid profile in streptozocin diabetic rat.

Approximately one-third of patients with type 1 diabetes develop a variety of complications as a result of mechanisms that are not completely understood. However, insufficient metabolic control seems to play a major role. Other factors such as magnesium (Mg) could also be of importance. We designed this study to elucidate the effect of oral magnesium administration on plasma lipid profile and mesenteric fat in male Wistar rats. Animals were divided into 4 groups (n=10 in each group): one group served as control, while the other groups were made diabetic with a single i.v. injection of 40 mg/kg streptozocin. Animals in which the diabetic state lasted for 10 days were referred as acute diabetic rats, whereas those in which the diabetes lasted for 8 weeks were defined as chronic diabetics. Mg-treated chronic diabetic received 10 g/l of MgSO(4) added to the drinking water (0.46 g/24 h) for eight weeks following which the left common carotid artery was cannulated for continuous recording of blood pressure. Blood glucose, magnesium and lipid profiles levels were also determined. Diabetes induction caused plasma glucose, high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), total cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations to increase, however plasma Mg level was decreased. Administration of MgSO(4) for eight weeks caused the return of the above factors to their normal levels. Mg concentrations also increased but failed to reach normal levels. Diabetes induction caused mesenteric fat/body weight ratio to increase, but administration of MgSO(4) reduced the ratio to normal levels. In addition, Mg administration returned systolic blood pressure to the normal level. Our results support the hypothesis that Mg may play a part in the management of diabetes and the prevention of its vascular complications in streptozocin-induced diabetic rats and it may be useful in the treatment of hyperlipidaemia in diabetic case.