Trans–aconitic acid and the magnesium status of Guinea Pigs and Sheep

Abstract

Single oral doses of sodium trans–aconitate slightly reduced the blood serum Mg levels of guinea pigs, but not of sheep. Feeding guinea pigs on a diet containing 6.8‥ trans–aconitate had little effect on growth or on serum Mg levels. Trans–aconitate reduced the oxidation of citric acid–l,5–¹⁴C by liver homogenates, but did not reduce the in vivo oxidation of glucose–U–¹⁴C or citric acid–l,5–¹⁴C to carbon dioxide. It is concluded that trans–aconitate is not a major factor in determining the Mg concentration in serum, nor does it have a toxic effect in vivo.