Skeletal muscle magnesium and potassium by gender and hypertensive status.

The relation between blood pressure and skeletal muscle magnesium and potassium, and the relation between these electrolytes and body mass index, blood lipids, blood glucose and plasma insulin concentrations were studied in 29 hypertensive and 21 normotensive men. In addition, a comparison was made between the normotensive men and 37 normotensive women regarding the concentrations of muscle potassium and magnesium. Mean skeletal muscle potassium concentration was lower and plasma insulin higher in hypertensive compared to normotensives. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were inversely correlated to muscle potassium and positively correlated to insulin. Muscle magnesium was positively correlated to muscle potassium but not to blood pressure. Muscle magnesium was significantly higher in normotensive women, compared to normotensive men. Muscle potassium did not differ between the genders.