DIETARY MAGNESIUM SUPPLEMENTATION AMELIORATES ANEMIA IN A MOUSE MODELOF BETA-THALASSEMIA

To ascertain the quantitative effect on the disease beta-thalassemia o f a low-magnesium (Mg) diet compared with a high-Mg diet and a standar d-Mg diet, we studied the effect these diets had over a 4-week period on beta-thalassemic (beta thal) mice compared with normal C57BL/6 mice used as controls. The low-Wig diet consisted of 6 +/- 2 mg Mg/kg body weight d, the high-Mg diet 1,000 +/- 20 mg Mg/kg body weight/d, and t he standard-Mg diet 400 +/- 20 mg Mg/kg body weight d, beta thal mice that were fed the low-Mg diet became more anemic, had reduced serum an d erythrocyte Mg, and had decreased erythrocyte K. Their K-Cl cotransp ort increased, followed by commensurate cell dehydration. The high-Mg group showed a significant improvement of the anemia, increased serum and erythrocyte Mg, increased erythrocyte Mg, increased erythrocyte K, reduced K-Cl cotransport, and diminished cell dehydration. C57BL/6 co ntrol mice that received the low-Mg diet experienced anemia with eryth rocyte dehydration, whereas the high-Mg diet had little effect on the hematologic parameters. beta thal and C57BL/6 control mice that were f ed a standard diet showed no changes, These results indicate that diet ary Mg supplementation corrects hypomagnesemia and improves anemia in murine beta that and should be assessed in human beta-thalassemia. (C) 1997 by The American Society of Hematology.