Altura B M, Altura B T
Department of Physiology, State University of New York Health Science Center, Brooklyn.
Magnes Trace Elem. 1991;10(2-4):182-92.
Hypertension and atherosclerosis are well-known precursors of ischemic heart disease, stroke and sudden cardiac death. Although there is general agreement that the atheroma is the hallmark of atherosclerosis and is found in coronary obstruction, there is no agreement as to its etiology. It is now becoming clear that a lower than normal dietary intake of Mg can be a strong risk factor for hypertension, cardiac arrhythmias, ischemic heart disease, atherogenesis and sudden cardiac death. Deficits in serum Mg appear often to be associated with arrhythmias, coronary vasospasm and high blood pressure. Experimental animal studies suggest interrelationships between atherogenesis, hypertension (both systemic and pulmonary) and ischemic heart disease. Evidence is accumulating for a role of Mg2+ in the modulation of serum lipids and lipid uptake in macrophages, smooth muscle cells and the arterial wall. Shortfalls in the dietary intake of Mg clearly exist in Western World populations, and men over the age of 65 years, who are at greatest risk for development and death from ischemic heart disease, have the greatest shortfalls in dietary Mg. It is becoming clear that Mg exerts multiple cellular and molecular effects on cardiac and vascular smooth muscle cells which explain its protective actions.
高血压和动脉粥样硬化是缺血性心脏病、中风和心源性猝死的众所周知的先兆。尽管人们普遍认为动脉粥样瘤是动脉粥样硬化的标志，且在冠状动脉阻塞中可见，但关于其病因尚无定论。现在越来越清楚的是，饮食中镁摄入量低于正常水平可能是高血压、心律失常、缺血性心脏病、动脉粥样硬化形成和心源性猝死的一个重要危险因素。血清镁缺乏似乎常与心律失常、冠状动脉痉挛和高血压有关。实验动物研究表明动脉粥样硬化形成、高血压（包括全身性和肺性）与缺血性心脏病之间存在相互关系。越来越多的证据表明镁离子在调节血清脂质以及巨噬细胞、平滑肌细胞和动脉壁对脂质的摄取中发挥作用。西方世界人群的饮食中显然存在镁摄入量不足的情况，而65岁以上的男性缺血性心脏病发生和死亡风险最高，其饮食中镁的缺乏也最为严重。越来越清楚的是，镁对心脏和血管平滑肌细胞具有多种细胞和分子作用，这解释了它的保护作用。
