Myocardial disorders caused by magnesium deficiency in diabetic KK mice.

Studies were made on the diabetic state and the pathogenesis of myocardial disorders in KK mice with the following results: (1) KK mice showed glucose intolerance, hyperinsulinemia and hyperlipidemia; (2) their electrocardiograms (ECGs) showed a marked left-axis deviation of the QRS vector; (3) they showed epicardial calcification and myocardial disorders; (4) the Ca content of their myocardiums was much higher, and the Mg contents in the erythrocytes and myocardiums were much lower than those of control mice; (5) the addition of Mg to the drinking water of KK mice normalized these changes, and suppressed their myocardial disorders, but did not normalize their ECG changes. These results suggested that Mg deficiency plays an important role in the development of myocardial disorders in KK mice.