Aluminum decreases the zinc concentration of soft tissues and bones of rats fed a low calcium-magnesium diet.

The relationship between magnesium (Mg) and zinc (Zn) in soft tissues and bone of rats was studied after administration of unbalanced mineral diets. Minerals and metals in soft tissues and bone were determined using inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry (ICP). There were significant positive correlations between serum Zn and Mg levels, between serum Zn and Zn content of soft tissues and bone, and between serum Mg levels and Zn content of bone and soft tissues in rats fed unbalanced mineral diets. A significant positive correlation was also found between Zn and Mg content in the lumbar spine and femoral bone of rats. It appears that altered bone mineralization induced by unbalanced mineral diets leads to mobilization of Mg and Zn from rat bones in similar ways.