EFFECTS OF DIETARY MAGNESIUM AND OR MANGANESE VARIABLES ON THE GROWTH-RATE AND METABOLISM OF MICE

The effects of seven feeding schedules differing only in their Mg and Mn contents on the growth rates and some metabolic aspects of Swiss albino female mice were studied. The animals were placed for 5 weeks on the seven dietarregimens and weighed weekly according to the following scheme: (1) normal diet fed (control) group; (2) Mg-defi- cient fed group; (3) Mn-deficient fed group; (4) coupled-deficient fed group: (5) Mg-supple- mented fed group: (6) Mn-supplemented fed group, and (7) coupled-supplemented fed group. Dietary Mg and/or Mn deficiencies were found to exert unfavorable effects on the growth rate of the animals. However, dietary supplementation of Mg has a favorable influence onthe growth rate of the animals. Also, several biochemical tests on the plasma and livers of the tested animals were carried out and discussed accordingly. © 1990 S. Karger AG, Basel.