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 i ndex, blood lipids, blood glucose and plasma insulin concentrations we re studied in 29 hypertensive and 21 normotensive men. In addition, a comparison was made between the normotensive men and 37 normotensive w omen regarding the concentrations of muscle potassium and magnesium. M ean skeletal muscle potassium concentration was lower and plasma insul in higher in hypertensives compared to normotensives. Systolic and dia stolic blood pressures were inversely correlated to muscle potassium a nd positively correlated to insulin. Muscle magnesium was positively c orrelated to muscle potassium but not to blood pressure. Muscle magnes ium was significantly higher in normotensive women, compared to normot ensive men. Muscle potassium did not differ between the genders.