Pierre Arnaud

Changes in magnesium, zinc and calcium in men and women after an acute myocardial infarction

The relations between different elements in acute myocardial infarction (MI) led us to determine erythrocyte (Erc) and/or plasma (Pl) concentrations of magnesium (Erc-Mg; Pl-Mg), zinc (Erc-Zn; Pl-Zn) and calcium (Pl-Ca) in 34 men and 8 women upon admission to hospital and then on days 2, 3, 6, 10 and 12. On day 1, these two groups were compared with 58 reference men or 53 reference women. The changes in the different variables from day 1 to day 12 were analyzed by one-way ANOVA. In MI men, from day 1 to day 12, all cations were significantly modified. In MI women, only Erc-Zn and Pl-Ca remained unchanged. In both populations, Pl-Mg, Erc-Mg and Pl-Zn increased significantly between day 1 and day 12.

Concentrations of Lead, Magnesium, Calcium, Zinc and Cadmium in Twenty Rabbit Tissues after Exposure to Low Lead Doses and Atherogenic Diet

Four groups of 6 rabbits were subjected to the following diets for 25 weeks: I (controls), II (water with 9.66 mumol/l of lead), III (atherogenic) and IV (atherogenic + 9.66 mumol/l of lead). Lead, magnesium, calcium, zinc and cadmium were then analyzed in 20 dry tissues. At the level of the arteries, veins and skin a tendency was observed toward increased lead concentration in rabbits of groups II and IV, elevated calcium levels in groups III and IV (a tenfold increase of calcium in the aortas), and a higher concentration of cadmium in animals of group II. There was a significant reduction in lead and magnesium concentrations in the liver of animals in groups III and IV because of fibrosis and overabundance of fatty liver cells. The lead level in the liver of animals in group II had slightly increased. Lead concentrations were higher in the kidneys and spleen in groups II and IV. Cadmium levels were significantly lower in the liver, kidneys, adrenal glands and spleen of animals in groups III and IV, whereas in group II they were particularly increased in the liver and kidneys. Very little significant interaction between the two diets was noted. Rabbits in groups III and IV showed notable histopathological alterations in aorta, carotid and femoral arteries, left ventricle and liver. Extrapolation from rabbit to man would be inadvisable.

Low Lead Doses and Atherogenic Diet in Rabbits: Biochemical Results in Blood

Changes in concentrations of blood lead, cholesterol, triacylglycerols, GOT and GPT enzymes, phosphorus, proteins, plasma calcium and magnesium, and erythrocyte magnesium were studied for 25 weeks in 4 groups of 6 rabbits each receiving different diets: I (controls), II (water with 9.66 mumol/l of lead), III (atherogenic) and IV (atherogenic + 9.66 mumol/l of lead). Differences observed, with respect to the diets, for lead, cholesterol, enzymes, proteins and erythrocyte magnesium were evident from the 42nd day on. Low lead doses raised the levels of cholesterol and triacylglycerols in group II, whereas triacylglycerols were lower in the plasma of group IV in comparison with group III and were accumulated in the aorta. The elevation of enzymes in groups III and IV indicated heart and liver dysfunctions. There was a significant drop in erythrocyte magnesium in groups III and IV, which was especially marked in the latter group, with an interaction between the two diets.