Magnesium citrate protects against vascular calcification. - GreenMedInfo Summary

BACKGROUND: Hypomagnemia was identified as a strong risk factor for cardiovascular disease in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF). However, the effects of magnesium (Mg) on vascular calcification (VC) have not been fully elucidated. Thus we aim to determine the effects of Mg citrate (MgCit) on VC in CRF rats.

METHODS: Rats were divided into 5 groups: group 1 (normal diet); group 2 (normal diet with MgCit); group 3 (VC model of CRF induced by 0.75% adenine and 0.9% phosphorus diet from day 1 to 28); group 4 (group 3 treated with low-dose MgCit from day 1 to 42) and group 5 (same as group 3 except the high-dose MgCit). All rats were sacrificed at day 43 with collection of blood and aortas. Then serum biochemical parameters, VC related staining, calcium and P contents, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) contents and activity, expression of alpha smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) in aortas were assessed.

RESULTS: Group 3 had extensive VC. The VC degree decreased in group 4 and 5 in a dose-depended manner with reduced calcium content, P levels, ALP content and activity, protein levels of RUNX2 and increased protein levels ofα-SMA in aortas.

CONCLUSION: MgCit exerted a protective role in VC in adenine-induced CRF rats, thus may be a potential drug for the prevention of VC in CRF patients.