OXIDATIVE MODIFICATION OF TRIGLYCERIDE-RICH LIPOPROTEINS IN HYPERTRIGLYCERIDEMIC RATS FOLLOWING MAGNESIUM-DEFICIENCY

Hypertriglyceridemia observed in magnesium (Mg)-deficient rats was ass ociated with a significant increase in the very low-density lipoprotei n (VLDL) plus low-density lipoprotein (LDL) fractions. The results fro m in vitro copper-induced lipid peroxidation, expressed in terms of co njugated dienes and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances content, s howed that VLDL + LDL particles from Mg-deficient rats were more susce ptible to oxidative damage than lipoproteins from control rats. These results suggest that the mechanism responsible for the atherogenicity and tissue damage characteristic of Mg deficiency may be mediated by a n increased susceptibility of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins to peroxi dation in hypertriglyceridemic animals.