Does potassium and magnesium supplementation lower the blood pressure of spontaneously hypertensive rats?

The effects of an orally administered potassium and magnesium supplementation on the systolic blood pressure of 42 spontaneously hypertensive rats were determined for 10 weeks. The experimental preparation was mixed with standard rat pellets and this mixture was given to three rat groups at three concentrations: 6%, 9%, and 12%. Potassium- and magnesium-containing nutrient statistically significantly inhibited the normal increase in systolic blood pressure in these rats. It could even decrease the systolic blood pressure below the initial level and its effect was similar to the known calcium antagonist verapamil. The systolic blood pressure of rats fed with the standard pellet diet containing 6% sodium chloride (NaCl) increased from 191 to 209 mmHg, whereas that of animals on 6% K-Mg supplementation decreased from 197 to 181 mmHg. 9% and 12% K-Mg supplementation produced an almost equally significant decrease in systolic blood pressure, according to Student's unpaired t-test. The experimental nutrient could possibly be used in human studies on the feasibility of normalizing blood pressure by reducing the harmful effects of dietary salt.