Abstract
Chronic magnesium deficiency in rats and mice leads to the development of the morphological and functional abnormalities of the thymus gland (“alimentary thymectomy”), lymph nodes and spleen (“alimentary splenectomy”) with subsequent immune system failure and the bone marrow overproduction of leukocytes. The enhanced sensitivity to carcinogenic agents, chromosomal abnormalities and the increased incidence of neoplasia are other findings. Magnesium supplementation tends to inhibit carcinogenesis mainly through the reduction of carcinogen binding to cells and DNA. However, the relationships between magnesium and cancer are complex: both magnesium load and magnesium deficit may produce either anticarcinogenic and carcinogenic effects. Based on the above observations further studies are needed and expected to clarify the role, if any, of the disturbed magnesium homeostasis in the pathogenesis of human cancer. The eventual Mg supply in management of patients with malignant diseases should be cautious, and reserved for subjects with symptomatic hypomagnesemia.