PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF MAGNESIUM SUPPLEMENTATION ON EXPERIMENTAL 3-METHYL CHOLANTRENE-INDUCED FIBROSARCOMA AND CHANGES IN TISSUE MAGNESIUM DISTRIBUTION DURING CARCINOGENESIS IN RATS

In this study, we wanted to examine the effect of magnesium (Mg2+) sup plementation on the experimental 3-methyl cholantrene (3-MC)-induced f ibrosarcoma and alterations in (Mg2+) distribution in several tissues of the rats, during carcinogenesis. It was determined that serum and t issue (Mg2+) levels of the rats in (Mg2+)-supplemented diet group were higher than those of the rats in the (Mg2+)-nonsupplemented and contr ol groups. The mean time of fibrosarcoma development for (Mg2+)-supple mented group was longer than (Mg2+)-nonsupplemented group (p < 0.05). Symptoms of hypermagnesemia were not observed in any of the rats. Thes e results suggests that dietary (Mg2+) supplementation may have a part ial anticarcinogenic effect on experimental 3-MC-induced fibrosarcoma by prolongation of the latent period of carcinogenesis.