Changes in Intestinal Bifidobacteria Levels Are Associated with the Inflammatory Response in Magnesium-Deficient Mice

Abstract

Magnesium (Mg) deficiency is a common nutritional disorder that is linked to an inflammatory state characterized by increased plasma acute phase protein and proinflammatory cytokine concentrations. Recent studies have shown that changes in the composition of gut microbiota composition participate in systemic inflammation. In this study, therefore, we assessed the potential role of gut microbiota in intestinal and systemic inflammation associated with Mg deficiency in mice. For this purpose, mice were fed a control or Mg-deficient diet (500 mg vs. 70 mg Mg/kg) for 4 or 21 d. Compared with the mice fed the control diet, mice fed the Mg-deficient diet for 4 d had a lower gut bifidobacteria content (-1.5 log), a 36-50% lower mRNA content of factors controlling gut barrier function in the ileum (zonula occludens-1, occludin, proglucagon), and a higher mRNA content (by approximately 2-fold) in the liver and/or intestine of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6, CCAAT/enhancer binding protein homologous protein, and activating transcription factor 4, reflecting inflammatory and cellular stress. In contrast, mice fed the Mg-deficient diet for 21 d had a higher cecal bifidobacteria content compared with the control group, a phenomenon accompanied by restoration of the intestinal barrier and the absence of inflammation. In conclusion, we show that Mg deficiency, independently of any other changes in nutrient intake, modulates the concentration of bifidobacteria in the gut, a phenomenon that may time-dependently affect inflammation and metabolic disorders in mice.

Lower Serum Magnesium Is Associated with Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Mortality in Haemodialysis Patients

“…Experimental magnesium deficiency induces an inflammatory syndrome in animal models, characterized by macrophage and white blood cell activation, release of proinflammatory cytokines, activation of an acute-phase response and excessive production of ox- ygen-free radicals [42,43] . In this study, in patients with CRP ≤ 5 mg/dl, there was a negative correlation between magnesium and inflammation (measured by CRP serum levels).…”

Eye and skin irritation tests using deep sea water-extracted minerals

“…Mg supplementation improves myocardial metabolism and inhibits myocardial cell death. Thus, it enhances vascular tone, cardiac output, and afterload, and reduces cardiac arrhythmias (Lin et al 2010;Pachikian et al 2010). Another study indicated that Mg supplementation improves lipid metabolism and reduces vulnerability to oxygen-derived free radicals (Dickens et al, 1992;Shechter, 2010).…”

Long-term dietary pattern of fecal donor correlates with butyrate production and markers of protein fermentation during in vitro fecal fermentation

“…Although a diet high in dietary fiber-containing foods would undoubtedly also be high in these micronutrients, which was noted by significant correlations among intakes such nutrients, it is nevertheless interesting to consider the dependence of the gut microbiota not only on dietary fiber but also on dietary vitamins and minerals as well. Only a fraction of the vitamins and minerals consumed in the diet are absorbed in the small intestine [34]; therefore, many of these nutrients make their way to the large bowel where they influence the gut microbiota [35][36][37][38]. Because of the dense microbial community in this region, it is likely that these nutrients would be in high demand and the less adaptable bacteria would be more susceptible to lack of these compounds.…”

“…Because of the dense microbial community in this region, it is likely that these nutrients would be in high demand and the less adaptable bacteria would be more susceptible to lack of these compounds. Based on literature data, we might speculate that these vulnerable bacteria would be those bacteria that are considered beneficial, including bifidobacteria and the butyrate producers [6,7,35].…”