Levels of cerium in the tissues of rats fed a magnesium-restricted and cerium-adulterated diet.

Cerium, a lanthanide, is the most abundant rare earth element present in monazite and is biologically active. It has been postulated that cerium toxicity in conjunction with magnesium deficiency causes tropical endomyocardial fibrosis, a restrictive human cardiomyopathy (Valiathan et al. 1989; Valiathan and Kartha 1990). Generally, lanthanides are known to be poorly absorbed (Durbin et al. 1956; Evans 1990). The present study was carried out to ascertain whether magnesium deficiency promotes accumulation of cerium in various organs of rats.