The bioavailability of magnesium from Wakame (Undaria pinnatifida) and Hijiki (Hijikia fusiforme) and the effect of alginic acid on magnesium utilization of rats.

The bioavailability of magnesium from Wakame and Hijiki, and the effects of alginic acid on absorption of dietary magnesium were examined in five groups of rats fed either control, Wakame, Hijiki, AW (containing the same amount of alginate as in the Wakame) and AH (containing the same amount of alginate as in the Hijiki) diets, and animals fed a low magnesium diet (LMg) (twentieth amount of magnesium in the original mineral mixtures as the control). Food intake and body weight gain were decreased by adding sodium alginate to the diets. A large amount of calcium accumulated only in the kidneys of the rats fed the LMg diet. Serum magnesium concentration decreased only in the LMg group. The magnesium content in the defatted left femurs did not differ between the control and Wakame fed animals and also among the animals eating Wakame, Hijiki and AW diets. The breaking force of the right femurs did not differ among all the groups except the LMg group. The ratio of apparent magnesium absorption (%) of the control, LMg, Wakame, Hijiki, AW and AH groups was 82.2, 72.7, 66.9, 50.8, 69.3 and 54.2 in the first experimental period, and was 75.3, 52.1, 57.7, 46.9, 62.6 and 60.5 in the second experimental period, respectively. It was clear that the bioavailability of magnesium in the Wakame fed rats was higher than in those eating the Hijiki. Large amounts of sodium alginate lowered magnesium absorption from the diet.