Magnesium, hypertensive vascular diseases, atherogenesis, subcellular compartmentation of Ca2+ and Mg2+ and vascular contractility.

Abnormal dietary deficiency in Mg as well as abnormalities in Mg metabolism appear to play important roles as risk factors for ischemic heart disease and acute myocardial infarction, namely in hypertensive vascular disease, diabetic vascular disease, insulin resistance, atherosclerosis and vasospasm. Experimental, epidemiological as well as clinical evidence that supports a role for Mg in these risk factors are reviewed. Extracellular Mg ions ([Mg 2+ ] o ) exert important actions upon divalent cation metabolism, transport and intracellular release of [Ca 2+ ]; and intracellular free Mg ([Mg 2+ ] i ) in both vascular smooth muscle and endothelial cells