Magnesium sulfate effects on stomach cells and mouse stomach
What it found
In lab tests, magnesium sulfate reduced the growth and survival of human stomach cancer cells, and in mice it increased inflammatory signals in the stomach lining.
What they found
Animal and lab studies
Stomach cell survival
Adding 3 to 50 mM magnesium sulfate to AGS human stomach cancer cells reduced both cell growth and cell survival, and the effect got stronger as the dose went up.
IL-8 release
Magnesium sulfate significantly reduced production of IL-8 by the cells.
IL-1β and IL-6 in cells
Magnesium sulfate had little effect on production of IL-1β or IL-6 by the cells.
Mouse stomach lining
In mice, magnesium sulfate increased production of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in the stomach lining.
What the authors conclude
“These preliminary data suggest that magnesium sulfate had a direct effect on the stomach and initiates cytotoxicity in moderate concentrations and time periods by inhibiting viability and proliferation of AGS cells and by regulating expression and/or release of pro-inflammatory cytokines.”
Also in their conclusions
- They say these early data suggest magnesium sulfate had a direct effect on the stomach.
- They say it starts cytotoxicity at moderate concentrations and time periods by reducing survival and growth of AGS cells and by changing the expression or release of pro-inflammatory cytokines.
How it was done
Magnesium sulfate is widely used as a food additive and as a medicine taken by mouth. The authors wanted to check whether it could harm stomach cells.
They exposed AGS human stomach cancer cells to 3 to 50 mM magnesium sulfate and measured cell survival and growth. They also looked at inflammatory cytokine mRNA and release in the cells, and checked IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in the stomach lining of mice.
What it can’t tell you
- We summarised it from the abstract only.
- These are lab and mouse studies. They can't show what happens in people who take in magnesium sulfate.
- The AGS cells are cancer cells grown in a dish, so they may not act like normal stomach cells.
Who paid
- Authors work at
- Capital Medical University, China E-mail :
The paper
- Title
- Magnesium sulfate induced toxicity in vitro in AGS gastric adenocarcinoma cells and in vivo in mouse gastric mucosa
- Type
- Study
- Evidence
- Animals and lab studies
- Summarised from
- Abstract only
- Cite
- Zhang X, Bo A, Chi B, Xia Y, Su X, Sun J (2015). Magnesium sulfate induced toxicity in vitro in AGS gastric adenocarcinoma cells and in vivo in mouse gastric mucosa. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention. doi:10.7314/apjcp.2015.16.1.71PubMed 25640393DOI
Summary written 26 Sep 2026. Check it against the paper before it changes what you eat. How we summarise papers · Report an error