Effects of magnesium and vitamin E on blood pressure and the heart of diabetic rats

Male streptozotocin-diabetic male Wistar rats and non-diabetic control rats were fed for 51/2 months with Mg-deficient (80 ppm), normal Mg (620 ppm) and high Mg (5800 ppm) diet containing either 48 ppm or 6800 ppm D, L-α-tocopherol acetate. Additionally, diabetic and non-diabetic rats fed with 620 ppm Mg and low vitamin E diet were treated with captopril (50 mg/kg body weight × day). During this time, a part of the rats developed hypertension and cardiac hypertrophy as measured by heart weight. Systolic blood pressure was correlated to relative heart weight. Cardiac hypertrophy was accompanied by an increase of collagen between the heart muscle cells. The increase in systolic blood pressure was caused by Mg deficiency and was not significantly affected by vitamin E or diabetes mellitus. Captopril treatment significantly reduced blood pressure and collagen content in diabetic and non-diabetic rats.