M. Yasui et K. Ota, ALUMINUM DECREASES THE MAGNESIUM CONCENTRATION OF SPINAL-CORD AND TRABECULAR BONE IN RATS FED A LOW-CALCIUM, HIGH ALUMINUM DIET, Journal of the neurological sciences, 157(1), 1998, pp. 37-41
Current epidemiological surveys in the Western Pacific (Guam, and Kii
Peninsula and West New Guinea) have suggested that low calcium (Ca), m
agnesium (Mg) and high aluminum (Al) and manganese (Mn) in river, soil
and drinking water may be implicated in the pathogenetic process of f
oci of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis GALS) and parkinsonism-dementia (
PD). The condition of unbalanced minerals was experimentally mimicked
in this study using rats. Male Wistar rats, weighing 200 g, were maint
ained for 60 days on the following diets: (A) standard diet, (B) low C
a diet, (C) low Ca diet plus high Al. Magnesium concentrations were de
termined in spinal cord and trabecular bone using inductively coupled
plasma emission spectrometry (ICP). In the experimental group maintain
ed on a low Ca, high Al diet, magnesium concentration of the spinal co
rd was lower than the group fed a standard diet. Also, magnesium conce
ntration of lumbar vertebra showed lower values in the experimental gr
oup fed a low Ca, high Al diet than did those on a standard diet or lo
w Ca diet without supplemental aluminum. Our data indicate that low Ca
, high Al diet influences Mg concentration in bone and central nervous
system (CNS) tissues and that a low Ca, high Al diet diminishes Mg in
bone and CNS tissues, thereby inducing loss of calcification in bone
and degeneration of CNS tissue due to alteration of the normal biologi
cal effects of Mg. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.