Ischemic heart disease and magnesium.

Globally, among mortality and morbidity indices for man, ischemic heart disease (IHD) ranks at the top of the list. In the industrialized world, IHD is the leading killer and accounts for approximately 35% of all deaths each year. This most common cause of death results from insufficient coronary blood flow. IHD is a general term used to describe a pathophysiologic state in which cardiac output is inadequate as a consequence of coronary blood flow deficits brought about when the latter cannot deliver enough O2 to meet the needs of the myocardium. This review is concerned with the etiology of IHD, special forms of IHD such as angina pectoris and variant angina, as well as sudden death ischemia heart disease. The diverse conditions that cause IHD are discussed. Important etiologic factors such as the pathogenesis of atherosclerotic obstruction as well as localized coronary vasospasm are reviewed. Implications of dietary and metabolic alterations in electrolytes are a special focus of this view. Evidence implicating Mg2+-K+ and Mg2+-Ca2+ alterations in the pathogenesis of IHD is reviewed. Special attention is devoted to the role of Mg in vascular tone, coronary blood flow and in clinical management of IHD. It is concluded that judicious use of Mg salts in IHD could be expected to reduce myocardial oxygen demand and influence the myocardial oxygen supply/demand ratio in a favorable manner.