Changes in Some Serum and Heamatological Indices in Magnesium and Riboflavin Deficiency in Rats

Abstract

Levels of some serum metabolites were studied in wistar strain rats raised on diets deficient in magnesium (mg) and/or riboflavin (Rb). Though growth was suppressed in the rats fed the vitamin deficient (+Mg-Rb) and magnesium deficient (-Mg +Rb) diets, it was more retarded in those fed the double deficient diets (-Mg-Rb) when compared with the control (P<0.01; +Mg+Rb). Significant decreased levels were observed in the total protein and albumin of the Mg and Rb deficient groups when compared with the control (P<0.01). Only the double deficient group showed a significant reduction (P<0.01) in globulin levels. Creatinine and urea levels in all the groups were reduced when compared with the control while glucose and cholesterol levels were significantly increased (P<0.01) except in the (+Mg-Rb) group where a significant decrease (P<0.01) in glucose concentration was observed. The hemoglobin (Hb) concentration of the riboflavin deficient group showed a decrease of 19.2% when compared with the control. On the other hand, no marked differences were observed in the erythrocyte levels of the control and deficient groups. These results indicate that magnesium has similar effect as riboflavin deficiency on growth and the selected serum metabolites and that the severity increases with a deficiency of both micronutrients.