Decrease in Serum Alkaline Phosphatase Activity Produced by Magnesium Depletion in Rats.

Abstract
Summary Thirty-day-old rats were fed a magnesium-deficient diet for up to 34 days. There was a decrease in serum alkaline phos-phatase activity which was reversed by adding magnesium chloride to the diet. The rats also developed hypophosphatemia and were mildly hypercalcemic for 14 days. Approximately one-third of the rats had phosphoethanolamin-uria. These changes are similar to those seen in infantile hypophosphatasia in man. Magnesium deficiency in rats may induce a biochemical lesion similar to that of hypophosphatasia in man.